Category Archives: Politics

Declaration Of Independence: TEAM Westport Teen Essay Winners Address Promise And Reality

Posted on April 29, 2026 | 9 comments

This year, America celebrates 250 years of the Declaration of Independence.

It’s a lot older than TEAM Westport. But it was a perfect topic for the town commission’s 13th Annual Teen Diversity Essay Contest.

Last night at the Westport Library, 2 high school students — younger even than 23-year-old TEAM Westport, the town’s multicultural commission — were honored as winners of that contest.

This year’s prompt asked students to reflect on the relevance and value of the Declaration of Independence in their lives; their duties or obligations to uphold its principles, and opportunities that Westporters have to reinforce those principles. (The full prompt is below, followed by the winners’ essays.)

Judging was done by producer and screenwriter Shonda Rhimes, the Westport Museum for History & Culture’s Michelle Rubin, and the Westport Library’s Alex Giannini.

Staples High School junior Kaila Patel won the $1,000 1st prize. She noted that although people like her — females and immigrants, were “never imagined as part of (its) promise … that flaw does not weaken the Declaration; it strengthens it.” To Kaila, “the Declaration was never the finished product. It was the catalyst.”

As a Korean and Indian girl growing in Westport, she recognizes “a luxury I can only live because of Jefferson’s ideals, because of women and men across America centuries ago, using the themes of the Declaration of Independence as a template, creating equality so people like me can go to school, claim independence, and live their lives freely.”

One of her own ways to give back, Kaila says, is by becoming an EMT. She looks forward to not simply “inheriting” the Declaration’s promise, but building on it.

Staples sophomore Liam Harrison, who earned $750 for his 2nd-place essay, wrote about the rights of minorities, and the “solemn duty of all members of society to ensure that everyone is heard and understood…. It is everyone’s obligation to fight against social injustices, regardless of who you are. We have forgotten that even if it is not your fight, you can either be an upstander, bystander, or aggressor.”

Though not a minority, he feels “just as responsible as anyone for making sure that all voices are equally appreciated.”

Locally, Liam adds, “embracing the values laid out in the Declaration of Independence today means addressing microaggressions in school where they show up; it means being the person who stands with the new kid in class instead of the one who giggles and points out their differences behind their back. Only once the atmosphere of slight but meaningful separation has dissipated can true democracy, true equality roam free. That is how anyone can play a part in ensuring liberty and justice for all.”

From left: 1st Selectman Kevin Christie, Staples High principal Stafford Thomas, winners Kaila Patel and Liam Harrison, TEAM Westport chair Harold Bailey, essay contest chair Maggie Mudd, Westport Library director Bill Harmer, judge Michelle Rubin.

TEAM WESTPORT TEEN ESSAY CONTEST PROMPT

This year, the United States will celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, a document which Abraham Lincoln called “a rebuke and a stumbling-block to tyranny and oppression.”

The Declaration of Independence was a product of its time, drafted to rally the colonists to defy Great Britain, support the creation of an autonomous and independent nation and attract allies to its cause.

Nonetheless, its claims have been universalized and imbued with fresh meaning by people here and around the world who have regarded it as an enduring beacon of hope in their own work to seek equal rights, freedom and self-determination.

The famous words in the Declaration’s preamble proclaiming as a self-evident truth that all men are created equal and have inalienable rights endowed by their Creator, including life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness have been widely employed to assert the inherent dignity and fundamental human rights of each person.

The Declaration of Independence is a foundational document in American political and social life that also inspires TEAM Westport’s mission: to build a community where diversity is welcomed, and inclusion, respect, and belonging are actively extended to all who live, work, attend school, or visit in Westport — regardless of ethnicity, gender identity, race, religion, and sexual orientation.

 In 1,000 words or less please comment on the following:

 1) The relevance and value of the Declaration of Independence in your everyday life and your duties or obligations, if any, to uphold its principles for all people living within our democratic society;

AND…

2) Opportunities, if any, you believe town leaders (including fellow students, school officials, community members, and TEAM Westport) could create to act differently or additionally to reinforce the principles of the Declaration of Independence.

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kaila patel: “THe declaration of independence: A foundation, not a finish line”

Sophomore year. U.S. History Honors with Mrs. Lynch. The lights in the classroom had been turned off as she read the Declaration of Independence, sentence by sentence. One after the other: “that all men are created equal”, that they “are endowed with certain unalienable rights”, that among those rights are “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness”. I remember thinking how powerful those words were. How strange and bold it must have felt 250 years ago to challenge an empire and declare that human dignity mattered more than authority. But even as I admired it, another thought crept in quietly: something was missing.

The document was revolutionary for its time, but to me it was also incomplete. When Thomas Jefferson wrote “all men are created equal,” women were excluded. People of color were excluded.

Immigrants and people who looked like me, Korean and Indian, were never imagined as part of that promise. Yet that flaw does not weaken the Declaration; it strengthens it. To me, the Declaration was never the finished product. It was the catalyst.

Kaila Patel

I view the Declaration as a template, one that later generations have been asked to build upon. The founder drafted the foundation, but it has been the responsibility of the American people to build upon it. Over time, the country has continued to add new chapters to the original promise of liberty and freedom, such as the 13th Amendment abolishing slave1y, the 19th Amendment granting women the right to vote, and the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibiting discrimination. Each of these efforts was an attempt to move reality closer to the ideals set forth in the Declaration. Each generation added another layer to the structure Jefferson began.

As a student at Staples High School, I see that same idea eve1y day. Our school gives us the foundation, such as knowledge, skills, and the framework of an idea, but they expect us to build something more with it. A history lesson becomes a topic at a debate. A science concept becomes a research project. A small idea becomes a passion project, a chance to make real change. The Declaration works the same way. It gave America the framework. What we do with it now determines its true meaning.

For me, I want to do my part to reinforce the principles of the Declaration of Independence. As a Korean and Indian girl growing up in Westport Connecticut, a place full of opportunity and strong education. I am reminded eve1y day that this is a luxury. A luxury I can only live because of Jefferson’s ideals, because of women and men across America centuries ago, using the themes of the Declaration of Independence as a template, creating equality so people like me can go to school, claim independence, and live their lives freely. 250 years ago, someone like me would not have been included in that vision of equality. Yet today, I sit in a classroom studying the very document that helped create the system that allowed me to be here. That realization carries weight.

The ideals expressed in the Declaration are part of my everyday life, whether large or small.

Because of that, I feel a responsibility to uphold those principles. The Declaration does not simply grant independence; it challenges each generation to prove it deserves it. If I claim the right to liberty and opportunity, then I must also embody the ideals of freedom and equality. For me, that means working hard, standing confidently, and not shrinking myself to fit in someone else’s view of who they think I should be. It means proving that our independence is not simply something that we were given, but rather that we take through action.

I plan on doing that by giving back to my community. Currently, I am in the process of becoming an EMT, as I believe that independence also means that one should be willing to give back to their community. Being an EMT and helping people in their time of need is one way that I can turn the abstract ideas of the Declaration into action.

However, it is not just an individualistic duty to advance the principles stated in the Declaration.

Our town leaders, schools, and organizations must also help advance the principles stated in the Declaration. If the Declaration of lndependence is a template, then our town, Westport, has the chance to build upon it.

One way to do this is to provide students with more opportunities to be in charge of actual projects that will benefit the community, whether it be in terms of the environment, health, or outreach.

When students are given the opportunity to be proactive, they will realize that democracy isn’t just something that’s written in history books; it’s something they are actively a part of.

Town leaders can also improve upon the idea of the Declaration by encouraging students to become active citizens by providing opportunities for internships, volunteer work, and other such leading roles. When students are given a voice, they begin to realize that the future of democracy lies in their hands.

Now, when I think back to that day in Mrs. Lynch’s classroom, I realize why the Declaration felt so powerful to me. It was never meant to be absolute. It was meant to begin something. 250 years later, that ideal continues. Now it is our turn. As a female, Korean, and Indian student in Westport, I do not simply inherit the Declaration’s promise; I build on it.

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liam harrison: codex officii populi

“… Governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed” — The Declaration of Independence

The Declaration of Independence, when written, was intended to protect the rights of and establish a better nation for a group of revolutionary citizens. Since its creation, the ideals of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness have become cornerstones of what it means to be an American. The understanding that “all men are created equal” has embedded itself in the hearts of those oppressed or struggling today to experience that equality.

Owing to the increased need for recognition and empowerment of the oppressed, it has become more relevant than ever as a beacon of equity for those without said rights than as simply history for the ones who initially had them-the white, patriarchal society.

Unfortunately, the oaths promised by the Declaration are not given. There are still millions of Americans today living in inhumane conditions, struggling fruitlessly for their entitled liberty. Even in Westport, one of the most well-off communities in the country, I’d need at least ten hands to list the racial, gender, or ethnic microaggressions I’ve seen this year at Staples alone. Whether as a truly hurtful comment or a joke in passing, it doesn’t matter. So what happens when the Declaration is abridged? Can citizens ensure that the promises of our founding fathers are met, or are the voices of the minority weak without a ‘savior’ standing behind them?

Liam Harrison (Photos/Dan Woog)

Minorities are not weak. The powerful speeches of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the tireless efforts of activists like Susan B. Anthony or Elizabeth Cady Stanton are proof. But no matter how hard minority groups may fight for representation in Congress and in communities in general, the rigid gears of oppression will refuse to budge without a representative voice.

The fact is that it is impossible to gain representation in Congress or town hall if you are prohibited from doing so, as many groups were in the past, and as some still are. In that way, it is necessary — even mandatory — that all minorities gain a proper footing in our society today so that they can make systemic changes and defend their own rights.

But what am I getting at here? The efforts of activists have always been the catalyst, the driving force behind justice. Yet an unfortunate but manageable reality of American democracy is the necessity for majority recognition for popular reform. As a community, it is our responsibility to ensure that all groups are not only seen, not only heard, but recognized, and perhaps most importantly, understood.

On the national scale, the failure of the country to embrace the Declaration of Independence can look like not recognizing those in Guam as US citizens, denying Puerto Ricans the right to vote in presidential elections, or any other instance of American’s voices being tossed aside. These struggles have not been resolved yet, and they will only be once those currently in power support and recognize those efforts.

Even in Westport, a town well renowned for its education quality, it’s obvious that there is a large gap in education between students with access to private tutoring versus those without.

Furthermore, embracing the values laid out in the Declaration of Independence today means addressing microaggressions in school where they show up; it means being the person who stands with the new kid in class instead of the one who giggles and points out their differences behind their back. Only once the atmosphere of slight but meaningful separation has dissipated can true democracy, true equality roam free. That is how anyone can play a part in ensuring liberty and justice for all.

I am not a member of any minority, by any and all definitions. My own personal struggles are not connected to the grand fights for equity in the United States. But it is disquieting to me that the current community practice is to leave the activists to fend for themselves, standing on the sidelines and acting as a spectator in the field of equality — for what?

I believe that as people and as a community, we have forgotten that it is the solemn duty of all members of society to ensure that everyone is heard and understood. Quite frankly, it is irrelevant that this is not a struggle that touches me personally. It is everyone’s obligation to fight against social injustices, regardless of who you are. We have forgotten that even if it is not your fight, you can either be an upstander, bystander, or aggressor. To act as a bystander is almost as criminal as being the aggressor, because you are turning away from the injustices at hand; devaluing and silencing the voices of the minorities. I may not be a minority member, it’s true, but I’m just as responsible as anyone for making sure that all voices are equally appreciated.

The purpose that connects all Americans in the caretaking of the Declaration of Independence is the responsibility to ensure that all members of our community are empowered, heard, and understood. Even if you don’t have a grievance, a battle to fight in society, it is your responsibility as a member of our Westport community to make sure that those with struggles and grievances can be equal members of society, and truly benefit from the equality of opportunity that our founding fathers intended.

With this common goal, nobody is excluded. Nobody is downtrodden. Nobody is denied not only the right to speak, but the right to be seen and heard. Once all Westporters unite in this aim, we can act as a beacon of light, hope, and equality in these dark times. It starts with a single choice; the one decision to uplift instead of put down, to open our minds instead of closing our hearts, to bring in instead of push out. From there, the possibilities of a fully united, multicultural, inclusive society are simply endless.

(“06880” reports regularly on Westport’s youth — what they’re thinking, as well as their activities and accomplishments. If you like stories like this, please click here to support our work. Thank you!)

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Posted in Library, Politics, Staples HS, Teenagers

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Josh Koskoff: State Fight Against Gun Violence Has National Impact

Posted on April 27, 2026 | 8 comments

Josh Koskoff did not plan to be a gun rights advocate.

He certainly did not set out to achieve a $73 million settlement for 9 Sandy Hook families — the only such victory against a gun manufacturer for a mass shooting in US history.

But social justice law is in his DNA. Koskoff — a 1984 Staples High School graduate — is the third generation at the Bridgeport firm of Koskoff Koskoff &  Bieder.

Like his father and grandfather, he believes strongly that a lawyer’s role is to improve his clients’ lives through the legal system.

On May 6 (6:30 p.m., Fairfield Theatre Company), Koskoff will tell that story — and others, like his role in a nearly $1.5 billion victory over conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, who claimed the Sandy Hook shooting was staged, and the families were actors.

Josh Koskoff

In the decade since he got involved with Sandy Hook cases, Koskoff has become one of the strongest voices in America against the carnage that guns — specifically, assault weapons — wreak.

Koskoff has particular respect for Connecticut Against Gun Violence. The non-profit advocacy and education organization is, he says, “leaner, meaner and more effective than any anti-gun violence group, of any size. They punch way above their weight.”

CAGV is the sponsor of the May 6 event. They’ve had high profile speakers before — like Fred Guttenberg, whose daughter was killed in the Parkland massacre.

But Koskoff will be special. His legal work has given him unique insights into gun manufacturers’ marketing methods — and their effects.

Plus, he’s a hometown boy.

Growing up, Koskoff says, “I always thought all lawyers stuck their necks out for the little guy,” like his father and grandfather’s firm did.

He later realized that was not the case. Still, in the months after Sandy Hook — though the proximity to that violence disturbed him — he was not a gun issue activist.

“I thought that battle had been fought, and lost,” Koskoff says.

A chance encounter with his driver on the way to the airport changed his professional life.

And American history.

The driver asked what Koskoff did for work. He said he was a lawyer (“I never know the reaction to that,” he notes wryly).

Josh Koskoff, in court.

The driver said he worked a second job with the father of Victoria Soto. The 1st grade teacher was one of 26 victims at Sandy Hook. The driver asked if he could give his colleague Koskoff’s name.

Of course, the attorney replied. He figured there were questions about probate, or the distribution of donated funds.

But as he learned more — and saw victims’ families speaking out for stricter laws in Hartford (with some success) and Washington (much less) — he realized there was much more to do.

“It was the privilege of being a lawyer,” Koskoff says.

The Remington Arms case — alleging that the manufacturer aggressively marketed the Bushmaster AR-15-style rifle used in the attack, targeting young, at-risk individuals, and violating Connecticut’s Unfair Trade Practices Act — took 7 years to work its way through courts.

Josh Koskoff, in his office. (Photo/Monica Jorge for the New York Times)

Along the way, Koskoff and his associates unearthed — and made public — thousands of internal documents, showing in raw detail Remington’s marketing strategy.

One of the keys through the long process, Koskoff says, was “staying optimistic in the face of daunting odds.” Rather than feeling constrained by legal precedents, the more information he amassed, the more he understood the importance of the case.

Not knowing much about gun laws was, he said, an opportunity rather than a hindrance. It allowed him to be open-minded and creative in his approach.

Josh Koskoff and Rachel Maddow discuss his legal approach.

When the state of Connecticut released crime scene photos — including those of 2 rounds of 30 rounds each, taped together to allow continuous shooting with virtually no down time — Koskoff had an “aha” moment.

He realized the image came directly from Call of Duty. Koskoff had played the shoot-’em-up video game series as a way to spend time with his sons.

The hair on his forearm literally stood up, as Koskoff recognized the direct through line from the media franchise to the assault rifle used by the Sandy Hook shooter.

“This was content and branding meant to reach kids,” the attorney says.

That was reinforced when documents showed that the private equity firm behind Remington boasted of the effect of marketing on young demographics — and the bright future ahead.

“Get me to a jury, and let me read this!” Koskoff thought. “Even I couldn’t lose that case.”

In 2023, Josh Koskoff showed the Bushmaster AR-15, at a talk to the Westport Rotary Club.

However, he needed a way to prove the relationship between marketing actions, and the actual outcome in the elementary school.

That came through contract documents indicating a quid pro quo between the owner of the manufacturer and Activision — the maker of Call of Duty — showing links between the video game and Bushmaster, the AR-15 rifle used in Newtown.

The $73 million settlement — paid for out of insurance — “shattered the myth that gun manufacturers are immune from lawsuits,” Koskoff says. “That was huge.”

Koskoff’s victory has not stopped mass shootings. Nor has his firm’s win in the Alex Jones case stopped conspiracy theorists.

But they’re enormous steps forward. They set precedents, and send warnings.

And — at a time when the legal system seems to be tottering — they show that lawyers can still stick their necks out for the little guy.

(For more information about the May 6 Connecticut Against Gun Violence spring benefit, click here.)

Josh Koskoff discussed the Alex Jones Infowars case, at the Westport Library. (Photo/Ted Horowitz)

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Affordable Housing: Just The FAQs

Posted on April 26, 2026 | 2 comments

Everyone talks about affordable housing. It’s a national crisis — and a local issue.

But — like the famous elephant, and the blind men who try to describe it — everyone has a different idea what it means.

There are, however, some very clear definitions of the term. They’re used by federal, state and local governments to plan and build affordable housing.

Westport’s Affordable Housing Committee recently launched an “Information Hub” web page. It includes Frequently Asked Questions — with clear, comprehensive answers.

Here’s what they say.

What is affordable housing?

The US Department of Housing and Urban Development defines Affordable Housing as housing where the occupant pays no more than 30% of gross income on housing, including utilities. Households paying more than 30% of gross income on housing are considered “cost burdened.”

Generally, the state of Connecticut considers housing to be affordable if total housing costs do not exceed 30% of household income for persons or families whose annual income does not exceed 80% of the lesser of the state or area median income.

For more information click here 

Who would qualify for affordable housing in Westport?
Using 80% of state median income, a family of 4 making less than $99,680 per year, or an individual making less than $69,775 per year, could qualify for affordable housing.

 

How much can a Westport household spend on housing costs, and not be considered “cost burdened”?

An individual making less than $69,775 per year can spend $20,932 annually ($1,744 a month) on housing costs, including utilities.

A family of 4 making less than $99,680 per year can spend $29,904 annually ($2,492 a month) on housing costs, including utilities.

The median cost of rent (condo/apartment) in Westport is $4,300 a month, including utilities. (November 2025 MLS)

It is important to note that the typical person who qualifies for affordable housing is employed.

Residents of the 19-unit 122 Wilton Road apartments include people who work in local supermarkets and other businesses.

Why does Westport need affordable housing?
  • To maintain a diversity of residents of all income levels.
  • To address the increase in housing costs and affordability.
  • The housing market is inaccessible to those whose only income is from Social Security or a minimum wage job.
  • Seniors struggle to find affordable housing when downsizing.
  • Many people who work in Westport and who support the community cannot afford to live here.
  • Many children who grew up in Westport cannot afford to return.
  • Nearly a third (29.2%) of homeowners and over a third (36.8%) of renters in Westport spend more than thirty percent (30%) of their income on housing. Town of Westport Affordable Housing Plan, 2022-2027.
  • According to the Center for Housing Opportunity, 21% of working families in Westport struggle to afford the basic cost of living.
  • To comply with the law.
  • For more information, see the 2025 State of ALICE Connecticut report
Who benefits from affordable housing?
  • Seniors living on fixed income.
  • Families with low to moderate income.
  • Persons with disabilities.
  • Individuals experiencing homelessness.
  • Essential workers, for example, teachers, healthcare providers, service workers and first responders who support the Westport community and who cannot afford the market rate housing.
  • Local businesses in need of a more stable workforce.

How has Westport addressed affordable housing?

  • Adopted the Town of Westport Affordable Housing Plan, 2022-2027 to assist the town in becoming more accessible to all demographic cohorts.
  • Adopted zoning regulations to promote the creation of a variety of housing choices.
  • Created by ordinance, an Affordable Housing Trust Fund “to be used for the preservation of existing and the creation of new affordable rental and home ownership in the Town.” See Code of Ordinances, Chapter 2, Article VI

Westport currently has 420 units of affordable housing.

What is 8-30g?
The state of Connecticut established a goal that affordable housing should represent 10% of the total housing inventory in each municipality.

General Statute 8-30g was enacted in 1989 as a way to facilitate the construction of affordable housing. It provides a special appeals process to a developer in the event a housing development containing a specified minimum amount of affordable housing is denied by a local land use board. This appeals process is only applicable to communities that do not meet the state’s affordable housing goal.

How does 8-30g define affordable housing?
  • “Assisted Housing”: housing development that receives financial assistance under any government program
  • “Set-aside development”: development where not less than 30% of the units are conveyed by deed containing covenants or restrictions which require that, for at least 40 years after the initial occupation of the development, such units will be sold or rented at, or below, prices which are 30% or less of a person’s or family’s annual income, where such income is less than or equal to 80% of the state median income or area median income, whichever is less.

Among Westport’s affordable housing options: Sasco Creek Village.

Why do developers use 8-30g?
In towns that have less than 10% affordable housing:
  • §8-30g allows a developer to override local zoning regulations (for example, with respect to building size, setback and other zoning rules), and build housing, as long as the developer “sets aside” 30% of the dwelling units as affordable for a period of not less than 40 years.
    • 15% of the “set aside” units must be available to people or households with incomes at or below 80% of the lesser of state or area median income.
    • 15% of the “set aside” units must be available to people or households with incomes at or below 60% of the lesser of state or median income.
    • Rent can be no more than 30% of income thresholds.
    • Units must be on site.
  • In traditional land use appeals, the developer must convince the court that the municipality acted illegally, arbitrarily, or abused its discretion. 8-30g shifts the burden of proof from the applicant to the municipality.
  • In order to reject an 8-30g application, the municipality must prove, based upon the evidence presented, that: (a) the denial was necessary to protect substantial public interests in health, safety, or other matters that the municipality may legally consider; (b) these public interests clearly outweigh the need for affordable housing; and (c) the public interests cannot be protected by reasonable changes to the proposed affordable housing development.

Artists’ rendering of apartments being constructed now on Hiawatha Lane Extension. They’ll contain 8-30g units.

What is an 8-30g moratorium, and how is it determined?
State law allows municipalities to apply for and receive a temporary 4-year moratorium (a “certificate of affordable housing completion”), during which time the municipality is exempt from most affordable housing developments proposed under 8-30g.

A municipality is eligible to apply for a moratorium if it can show that it has added affordable housing units, measured in Housing Unit Equivalent points, equal to the greater of 2% of the total number of housing units as of the last census or 75 HUE points. A formula assigns points depending upon the type of unit developed and the maximum qualifying income. The highest points (2.5) are reserved for rental units that are restricted for those earning not more than 40% of the area median income. Only units that have been newly constructed or deed restricted after July 1, 1990 (the date 8-30g took effect) are eligible for HUE points.

Will Westport achieve a moratorium?
Westport achieved its first moratorium in 2019. That moratorium expired in 2023. It is now working towards a second moratorium in 2027.

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Posted in Categories, Local politics, Politics, Real estate

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Roundup: Compo Rainbow, Website Redesign, Wars …

Posted on April 16, 2026 | 6 comments

We seldom start the Roundup with a photo.

But this one — by longtime Westporter and internationally known artist Larry Silver — showing yesterday’s rainbow over kids playing at the Compo Beach playground is too good to pass up.

(Photo/Larry Silver)

Today may not be great beach weather: partly cloudy.

But the temperature will be in the mid-80s.

We’ll take it.

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The town of Westport website is very functional. There’s tons of information on departments, commissions, permits, beaches, affordable housing, etc., etc., etc.

It’s where you go to access livestreams of meetings, get voter information, find emails and phone numbers of town officials, etc., etc., etc.

The website has been tweaked over the years. There have been incremental improvements.

But things are not always where you’d think they’d be. There are inconsistencies. It can be clunky. And no one has ever called it “pretty.”

That may change.

Officials are seeking “proposals for Municipal Website Redesign.”

Bids are open through 11 a.m. April 2026, in the Finance Office at Town Hall.

Click here for the RFP documents.

Partial screenshot of the http://www.westportct.gov home page.

Now, if there could be an RFP to redesign the town of Westport’s “W” logo (at the top of the graphic above).

Or just go back to the old one …

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Speaking of government: Congressman Jim Himes will speak — and take questions — this Saturday (April 18, 8:30 a.m.), at Weston’s Norfield Congregational Church.

The event is sponsored by the Weston Kiwanis Club.

Congressman Jim Himes

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On Saturday, “06880” announced the 7th edition of Soles4Souls.

The project — organized by Ken Bernhard, Ted Freedman and Rick Jaffe — encourages Westporters to check their closets, and donate new or slightly worn shoes. The non-profit keeps shoes out of landfills, provides footwear for people in need, and creates micro-business opportunities in places of poverty.

Collection boxes are in place at Town Hall and the Senior Center.

Westport definitely has a soul.

In just 3 days beginning Monday, over 150 pairs have been collected.

That’s outstanding generosity.

And it’s just the start.

The collection boxes will be at Town Hall and the Senior Center through the first week in May.

That’s plenty of time for many more residents to help many more souls, with soles.

Donations at the Senior Center. From left: director Wendy Petty, Meghan Tapley, Nicole Rolnick ,,,

… and at Town Hall, Paul Byson.

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The Westport Country Playhouse has announced 2 new shows for kids, and the May Script in Hand play reading.

“Pinkalicious” (June 7, 1 and 4 p.m.) is perfect for kindergartners through 2nd graders.

“Mutts Gone Nuts” (June 21, 4 p.m.) features 6 amazingly talented canines. The cast includes a Guinness World Record holder, an “America’s Got Talent” favorite, and other dogs that dance, prance, flip, and skip.

The Script in Hand reading (May 4, 7 p.m.) is “One Slight Hitch” by Lewis Black — yes, that Lewis Black.

He’s written “a farce that feels both wildly entertaining and all too familiar to anyone who’s ever navigated family, love, or the chaos of a wedding day.”

Click here for details, tickets, and more information on other Westport Country Playhouse offerings.

Pinkalicious

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The Revolutionary War returns!

On May 16 (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.), the 5th Connecticut Regiment will stage an encampment, at the Weston History & Culture Center.

The day — part of Weston’s America 250 celebration — includes soldier drills, a kids’ musket march, blacksmithing, weaving, wool spinning, woodworking, cooking demonstrations and fashions.

Even a Revolutionary War surgeon.

All events are free. For more information, click here. 

Preparing for the children’s musket march. (Photo/5th CT Regiment)

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As fighting in Ukraine rages, 2 events will focus on that long-running war. Donations for relief efforts through Ridgefield Responds will be gladly accepted.

“Words From the Front” (Sunday, April 19, 2:30 p.m., Easton Library) is a staged reading of a play by Nancy Herman an Lynda Sorensen. It uses the actual  voices of Americans, Ukrainians and Russians, in correspondence.

The following Sunday, also in Easton (April 26, 4 to 6 p.m., Masonic Lodge, 200 Center Street), “A Taste of Ukraine” — organized by Westport artist Mark Yurkiw — includes pierogi, desserts, and an art sale.

Yurkiw — who has collected medical supplies for Ukraine — will give an overview of the crisis, and discuss his own and other aid efforts. There is a suggested donation of $30, with seating limited to 50 people.

Mark Yurkiw

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Cybersecurity fraud was the talk of the Westport Rotary Club on Tuesday.

Fortunately, it hadn’t happened — at least, not to the club itself.

But a pair of financial crimes specialists — Westport Police Department Sergeant James Baker and Detective 1st Class Marc Heinmiller — shared their expertise.

Baker said the most common types of crypto-crimes include financial account takeovers), investment scams, ransomware, dark markets (human and narcotics trafficking), and money laundering.

Heinmiller cited “bad actors,” including Russian ransomware groups, North Korean hackers, drug cartels and global scam organizations.

Detective Marc Heinmiller. (Hat tip and photo/Dave Matlow)

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Westport Police made 2 custodial arrests between April 8 and 14.

A 55-year-old Westport man was charged with electronic stalking of a domestic partner. In September a victim found an electronic tracking device in the trunk of their car. An investigation identified the suspect, who denied intentionally placing it there. He was released on a $50,000 bond.

A 38-year-old Waterbury woman was charged with assault, following an investigation into a 2023 incident at St. Vincent’s Behavioral Health Services. The victim said there was no provocation, but the assault included repeated strikes to the head using both fists and knees, and continued after the victim became unconscious. She was unable to post a $75,000 bond.

As the monthlong state crackdown on texting while driving continued, Westport Police issued these citations:

  • Texting while driving: 47 citations
  • Distracted driving: 11
  • Traveling unreasonably fast: 10
  • Failure to comply with state traffic commission regulations: 6
  • Speeding in a school zone (2nd offense): 4
  • Operating an unregistered motor vehicle: 3
  • Failure to renew registration: 2
  • Failure to obey stop sign: 2
  • Reckless driving: 1
  • Speeding: 1
  • Drinking while driving: 1
  • Failure to obey traffic control signals: 1
  • Operating a motor vehicle without a license: 1
  • Failure to reinstate license after 60 days: 1

Illegal!

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This week’s very warm and wonderful weather has brought great crowds to Compo. (They’d be greater still if most of the town was not far away, for the schools’ spring break.)

But, as this gull proves in today’s “Westport … Naturally” feature, the beach still belongs to him and his fine feathered friends.

They can fly all over the place. They can swoop down and take your food.

And they can sit and hang out wherever they please.

(Photo/Lauri Weiser)

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And finally … in honor of the Westport Country Playhouse’s upcoming production of “Pinkalicious”:

(“06880” relies on reader support. Please click here to make a tax-deductible contribution. We’ll be in the pink!)

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Posted in Arts, Beach, Children, Entertainment, Local politics, Police, Politics, Westport Country Playhouse

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Roundup: Ned Lamont, Alma Sarelli, Peter Stern …

Posted on April 15, 2026 | 3 comments

The weather was spectacular yesterday, as 525 new fish were restocked in Lees Pond.

The state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection effort, at the Westport Weston Family YMCA property on the Saugatuck River, will result in thousands of alewife eggs, for repopulation of the pond and river.

The Y plans to make this an annual event. For details on the effect this will have on the entire food chain — including birds of prey — click here.

State workers restocked Lees Pond yesterday …

… with help from youngsters, part of the Y’s spring break camp.

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Over 150 people filled the Westport Library Monday, to hear Governor Lamont speak about “Your State, Your Business.”

But many others could not make the 11 a.m. Westport Weston Chamber of Commerce event.

No problem! The Library’s ace AV crew recorded it. Click here or below to see.

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Speaking of politics: Alma Sarelli has joined the race to succeed Ceci Maher, as state senator from Connecticut’s 26th District. The district includes Westport, Weston and 5 other towns.

The Representative Town Meeting member serves on their Public Protection, Education, Parks and Recreation, and Planning & Zoning Committees. She is secretary of Westport’s Republican Town Committee, and president of Neighbors & Newcomers of Westport. 

Sarelli cited affordability, local decision-making, public safety, support for small businesses, educational excellence and fiscal responsibility as areas of emphasis.

She majored in business management at Berkeley College in New York. She and her husband own an event entertainment production company.

This is her second run for the General Assembly. In 2022, Sarelli lost to incumbent Jonathan Steinberg in the 136th State Representative district race.

Alma Sarelli

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Every Sunday, the New York Times Business section’s “Corner Office” features an interview with a C-suite executive. He or she discussed the challenges (and, occasionally, joys) of the position, the company and the industry

Last weekend, the spotlight was on Peter Stern.

He’s the CEO of Peloton. He’s also a 1990 graduate of Staples High School (and a varsity soccer alum).

After Harvard University — where he majored in English and music —  Stern co-founded Apple Fitness+, was president of Ford Integrated Services, and held high positions with Time Warner Cable.

The Times interview covers Peloton’s rapid growth during the pandemic; expansion beyond cardio into yoga, strength and other workouts; 2 rounds of layoffs; reaction to tariffs, and more.

Stern also gives a shoutout to his mother, and notes her work as a fitness instructor with the classic 1980s Westport business Nancy Strong’s Aerobic Slimnastics.

He made mixtapes for her, on his boombox. “In retrospect, it was likely a massive copyright violation,” he notes.

Click here to read the full interview.

Peter Stern

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Today, Finalmente Trattoria celebrates one year since their reopening.

Giuseppe Cinque’s restaurant opposite Design Within Reach — one of Westport’s best Italian spots, in a town filled with them — builds on what was there before.

Cinque — an experienced restaurateur — upgraded the kitchen. He lightened the interior. He hired 2 very experienced chefs. He reworked the menu, taking advantage of daily trips to nearby markets.

The result shows. Finalmente is often packed.

Now that the weather is better, it should be even more popular.

Finally — finalmente! — Cinque’s dream restaurant is coming true.

From Finalmente.

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On Monday (April 20, 6 p.m., Zoom and Optimum Channel 79), the Planning & Zoning Commission will discuss Text Amendment #866.

The proposal would remove references to the maximum number of stories permitted in various residential zoning districts, and regulate building scale solely by maximum building height in feet.

P&Z director Michelle Perillie says, “The current regulation on building height is onerous to both applicants and staff. This change will simplify the process which retaining neighborhood scale.”

Click here, then scroll down to Text Amendment #866 for more information.

Is that an actual third floor?

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Leonard Bernstein — the multifaceted composer, conductor, pianist, educator, author and political activist — continues to fascinate the American public.

On April 24 — 5 years after “Bernstein’s Wall” premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival — the documentary is set for its US theatrical premiere, at New York’s Film Forum.

Directed by Douglas Tirola, and produced by Susan Bedusa — both Staples High School graduates — the film uses Bernstein’s 1989 Christmas Day “Ode to Joy” concert in Berlin as a frame.

Tirola crafts Bernstein’s remarkable career entire from television interviews, news footage, home movies, audio clips and personal letters.

Variety calls it “galvanizing. (It) captures how Leonard Bernstein became the superstar of American high culture (who evolved) into a towering figure …. What the documentary captures, profoundly, is that Leonard Bernstein was a fierce hedonist who worked hard to live the life he wanted.”

The first screening is at 12:15 p.m. It will be followed by several each day, through April 30. Click here for showtimes and tickets.

Leonard Bernstein

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The deadline to transfer from one political party to the other — and be eligible to vote i a state or district primary with a new party — is May 11 (4:30 p.m.).

Voters can change parties in person at the Registrars’ Office in Town Hall (Room 107), or  online here.

Questions? Contact Democratic Registrar of Voters Deborah Greenberg (dgreenberg@westportct.gov; 203-341-1116) or Republican Registrar of Voters Maria Louise Signore:  msignore@westportct.gov; 203-341-1117.

Paul Newman has the right idea.

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It’s time to toot the Jazz Society of Fairfield County’s horn — and promote their important upcoming fundraiser.

“JazzFC” presents the wildly popular “Jazz at the Post” series every Thursday. Musicians — some internationally famous — play 2 great shows at VFW Post 399. The price is low; the talent level very, very high.

But Jazz FC does much more. Among their projects: workshops for youth and aspiring professional musicians, as well as the local underserved community in senior citizen residences and community centers.

They also administer the Micky Golomb Scholarship, awarding up to $10,000 annually to students who concentrate in jazz studies.

To fund those endeavors, they’re sponsoring a “Jazz Cruise by the Saugatuck” (April 23, 6 to 10 p.m.). NOTE: It’s at the VFW, not actually on the river.

Over 25 award-winning artists will jam. There’s a silent auction and lavish dinner too. Click here for tickets, and more information.

Some of the 25+ musicians appearing at the “Jazz Cruise by the Saugatuck.” It takes place on dry land, at VFW Post 399.

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The Senior Center’s vitrines showcase a variety of sculptors. Every 6 weeks, the display changes. Ten percent of all sales support the Center.

To complement the exhibits, curator Mark Yurkiw has organized a series of talks. The first — this Friday (April 17, 11 a.m.) — features Bob Braczyk, whose work is inspired by the natural and manmade environments of New England. Call 203-341-5099 to register for the event.

Sculptor Bob Braczyk.

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Westport has hurricanes and blizzards. We’ve got superstorms and nor’easters.

We don’t have earthquakes.

Except, we do.

The eastern US has surprisingly active seismic history. And although we’re in no danger of a San Andreas Fault-sized Big One, every so often the earth shakes, the dishes rattle, and we wonder, “Was that an earthquake?”

On April 21 (8 p.m.), Professor Alan Kafka — one of the nation’s leading earthquake scientists — comes to the Westport Observatory for a lecture on “The Mystery of Earthquakes in the Eastern United States.”

The talk will also be live-streamed on YouTube and on Zoom. It will be posted to the WAS YouTube channel afterward.

Just over 2 years ago — in early April 2024 — Westporters felt a strong (for here) earthquake. (Data courtesy of Franco Fellah)

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Last Sunday was Greek Orthodox Easter.

In honor of all who celebrate, today’s “Westport … Naturally” featured photo shows a colorful arrangement of Greek Easter flowers, by Sophie Tricarico.

(Photo/Joan Tricarico)

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And finally … in honor of Doug Tirola’s Leonard Bernstein documentary (story above):

(There’s a place for us — right here at “06880.” If you enjoy our daily Roundup — or any other feature, our stories, photos, whatever — please click here to support our work. Cool!)

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Roundup: Governor Lamont, Food News, Fishing Fun …

Posted on April 14, 2026 | Leave a comment

Governor Ned Lamont spoke to over 150 people at the Westport Library yesterday.

It was the 4th “Your State, Your Business” event, sponsored by the Westport Weston Chamber of Commerce.

Lamont covered a lot of ground, from the stability of Connecticut’s economy and energy costs, to affordable healthcare and housing.

But the audience was interested in local issues too.

The first question — from Representative Town Meeting member Kristin Schneeman — concerned the future of the Cribari Bridge.

The governor said he was getting up to speed on the subject. He said he understands that residents are concerned, and will look to put people — including 1st Selectman Kevin Christie, and the state Department of Transportation commissioner — together to figure out a solution.

A video of the event will be available later today.

After lunch at Nômade, Governor Lamont spoke to a smaller group at the Senior Center.

Governor Lamont answers a question from moderator Matthew Mandell, director of the Westport Weston Chamber of Commerce. (Photo/Lindsay Katz)

At Nômade, Governor Lamont posed with Chef Zoli Kovacs. (Photo/Sal Liccione)

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After 4,000 people voted in 11 categories, CTBites has announced semifinalists for their “It’s a Woman’s World” contest.

Two are from Westport and Weston.

Alison Milwe Grace (AMG Catering & Events) is nominated in the Catering category. Melanie Pabon (The Cottage) is a finalist in the Server/GM category.

Winners — the tops in Connecticut’s culinary world — will be announced April 27 at Hotel Marcel in New Haven. Click here for tickets, and more information. Click here for the full CTBites story.

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Those are not the only local connections in this week’s CTBites newsletter.

There’s also a feature story on Gruel Britannia.

It’s a deep dive into the popular Cross Highway spot (and her first location, in Southport).

There are also hints about a few innovations owner Karen Hubrich has planned for her Westport space. Click here to read the full story.

Lunch menu at Gruel Britannia.

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One more restaurant item: Hey Taco! has opened on Post Road East, between the Shell station and ASF.

It replaces Border Grille, which itself replace another mostly-takeout Mexican place, Tacos or What?

Chris Dobransky — aka FairfieldFoodDude — recently visited. He loved it.

He wrote about the “authentic, made-with-love tacos done right. Between the bold flavors, generous portions, and obvious passion behind the food, this place is already making a name for itself.”

Click here or below for the full writeup.

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Book lovers, take note: The Westport Library’s big spring book sale takes place May 15-18.

There is something for everyone — toddlers through adults — with thousands of gently used books in over 50 categories of non-fiction and fiction, including antiquarian, comic books,  and vintage children’s books. 

Plus a huge assortment of DVDs, CDs, vintage vinyl, jigsaw puzzles, ephemera, and framed artwork, from small desktop pieces to large wall pictures.

Hours are:

  • Friday, May 15 (noon to 6 p.m.; early access with ticket, 8:45 a.m. to noon))
  • Saturday, May 16: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Sunday, May 17: (11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; almost everything half price)
  • Monday, May 18 (9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; fill a Library logo bag for $10, your own equivalent-size bag for $8, or buy individual books for half price).

For more information, click here. To volunteer, email  volunteers@westportbooksales.org.

A small part of the large Westport Library book sale.

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Yesterday was the first day of the Westport schools’ spring break.

Many families have already skedaddled out of town.

But bright and early, Andrew Colabella spotted these 2 boys, at Riverside and Treadwell Avenue.

(Photo/Andrew Colabella)

“It’s 7 a.m. School is off for the week,” Andrew writes.

“Your buddy meets you at your house, fishing pole and gear ready to go. Take the long haul across the bridge to the fishing spot.

“Two kids, living in the moment. Reminded me of when I was a kid. I love this town!”

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Atla DeChamplain — a jazz vocalist, lyricist and educator known for her expressive phrasing, vocal control and authenticity — headlines this Thursday’s Jazz at the Post (April 16, VFW Post 399; shows at 7:30 and 8:45 p.m.; dinner at 7).

She’ll be joined by her husband, pianist Matt DeChamplain, plus bassist Sameer Shankar, drummer Ben Bilello and saxophonist Greg “The Jazz Rabbi” Wall.

Click here for tickets, and more information.

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Speaking of the VFW: Rock star/soul singer/multi-instrumentalist Eliot Lewis — a longtime member of the Average White Band and Hall & Oates’ band, and who has performed with legends like Joe Walsh and Todd Rundgren — brings his many talents to the VFW this Friday (April 17). He’s joined by special guest artist, Weston’s own Owen Daniel.

The doors open at 6 p.m., for an opening set by Ecoustic Rock Monster.

Tickets are $15 online, $20 at the door. Light bar food and drink specials are available.

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The daffodils — and the daffodil photos — keep on coming.

Today’s “Westport … Naturally” image shows the colorful scene, from the lower Imperial Avenue parking lot up the steps to the back of the Westport Woman’s Club.

(Photo/Laurie Sorensen)

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And finally … on this date in 1912, Titanic hit an iceberg in the North Atlantic. It sank a few hours later.

1,501 passengers and crew members died; 707 were saved.

(Was there room for Jack on the door frame? Why didn’t Rose beg him to try? Who knows? But here’s one thing we know for sure: You can click here, and support “06880.” Our hearts will go on. Thanks!)

 

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Roundup: PopUp Bagels, Hydration Stations, Fashionably Fun …

Posted on April 13, 2026 | 2 comments

PopUp Bagels — the Westport start-up that popped up during the pandemic, roared into regional and now national prominence, and has clearly outgrown its motto — “Not famous, but known” — is in the headlines again.

Bloomberg reports that Tiger Global has agreed to invest — at a $300 million valuation.

That’s “roughly 5 times what the startup was quoted at as recently as 5 months ago.”

“The buzzy bagel brand races to turn its TikTok-fueled hype into a national presence,” Bloomberg adds.

It describes the brand as developing “a cult-like following around its smaller, fluffier bagels, sold in limited flavors with a minimum order of 3.”

PopUp Bagels plans to open up to 300 locations across the US in the next 4 years.

The 30th store opens Friday in Chicago. Number 31 follows the next week, in Dallas.

Click here for the full Bloomberg story.

PopUp Bagels founder Adam Goldberg, with his Brooklyn Bagelfest award.

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Sustainable Westport’s UnPlastic Westport initiative is bearing fruit.

Donations have already funded 2 public water bottle filling stations: one at the Compo Beach basketball courts, the other at Winslow Park. Both will keep tens of thousands of plastic water bottles out of landfill.

Rendering of the water bottle filling station at Winslow Park …

Five more “priority locations” have been identified:

  • Burying Hill Beach
  • Old Mill Beach
  • Grace Salmon Park
  • PJ Romano Field
  • Town Farm Little League fields.

Three “wish list locations” — requiring more logistical planning — are the Wakeman Fields, Longshore and downtown.

The cost and installation of each station ranges from $5,000 for an in-wall unit, to $15,000 for a standalone, ADA-compliant one.

Sustainable Westport seeks individual donors, and corporate sponsors. Click here to contribute, and for more information.

… and the Compo Beach basketball courts.

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“Love + War” — the remarkable documentary about the professional and personal lives of Pulitzer Prize and MacArthur fellowship winner (and 1991 Staples High School graduate Lynsey Addario — has been nominated for 4 Emmy Awards.

The nominations include the biggest category — Best Documentary — along with others for Outstanding Editing, Outstanding Sound, and Outstanding Promotional Announcement.

Addario congrats her team — including National Geographic — and adds, “It took me years to feel comfortable letting a film crew into my life. Even then, it never felt entirely natural as someone who’s usually behind the camera, not in front of it. So thank you to our cameramen.”

She cites their “gorgeous (and subtle!) cinematic eye (and) powerful footage from Ukraine, often shot while under fire.

“It’s been amazing to share this film with so many different people across the world. I hope ‘Love + War’ continues to stand as a testament to a profession that became my calling, while also being clear-eyed about the complexities and sacrifices that come with it.”

Winners will be announced at Lincoln Center on May 28. “Love + War” can be streamed on Hulu and Disney+.

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As models get fitted, styled, and practice their runway strut, a few tickets still remain for “Fashionably Westport.”

The Westport Downtown Association-sponsored evening (April 25, 7 p.m., Westport Library) is a benefit for Homes with Hope. It features an actual runway, with friends-and-neighbors models from all over town, wearing outfits from over 20 local stores.

(Spoiler alert: One of those models is yours truly. Please don’t laugh — but please come to the show!)

The evening includes plenty of food, and a great silent auction. Click here for tickets, and more information.

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A full crowd packed the VFW last night, for a very special show.

Corky Laing — the former drummer for Mountain (of “Mississippi Queen” fame) — sat in with Gary Shure’s 10$Grand Band.

From the first chords, the place rocked. Do you know what I mean?

From left: Joe Whelan, Ray Schmidt, Corky Laing, Gary Shure, Ronnie Roberts, Michael Bertholf.

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More ospreys — and not the well-known Fresh Market ones.

This pair nests at the north end of Sherwood Mill Pond.

Are they surveying the scene? Planning dinner? Thinking about starting a family?

Whatever the answer: They look very intent doing it.

(Photo/John Kantor)

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Besides the ospreys, there was another sign of the season yesterday — a (finally) warm and sunny spring Sunday.

Boats and other craft headed to Cockenoe Island, off Compo, by the — well, boatload.

(Photo/Carrie Kuhn)

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Westport native and Korean War veteran Donald Switter died on Wednesday. He was 92.

He was studying architecture at the University of Connecticut to study architecture, but while drawing up plans realized his true love was outdoors.

Don pivoted, and started a landscape company. For years, he was one of the town’s top landscapers.

Many residents knew him as the man riding in a Jaguar convertible, with his English setter Mike by his side.

Don is survived by his sister, Phillis Fox of Unicoi, Tennessee; brother James of Winchendon, Massachusetts, and many nieces and nephews.

Don Switter

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It’s been a while since we’ve had deer in our “Westport … Naturally” daily feature.

These 2 look like they need a good meal.

(Photo/Richard Fogel)

Lucky (for them): Growing season is upon us.

Unlucky (for us): They’ll soon be chomping on our plants.

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And finally … on this date in 1742, George Frideric Handel’s oratorio “Messiah”  had its world premiere in Dublin.

If you’re free for the next 2 1/2 hours — enjoy!

(Hallelujah! “06880” is your 24/7/365, hyper-local go-to blog — “Where Westport meets the world.” We rely on reader support. Please click here to donate. And thank you!)

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Roundup: Plants And Protest …

Posted on April 12, 2026 | 1 comment

Aspetuck Land Trust’s native plant sales is a great spot for hard-to-find native perennials and shrubs.

Plants are ordered online. Pickup is at the Caryl & Edna Haskins Preserve of Compo Road South, from Friday, May 15 through Sunday morning, May 17.

Click here for selections, and ordering information.

A few of Aspetuck Land Trust’s many native plants.

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The third “No Kings” protest is in the history books.

But yesterday — as they have for many months — a small group gathered on the Ruth Steinkraus Cohen Bridge to protest against President Trump.

As usual, they were met with many thumbs-up signs from passing drivers, and horns honking in approval.

As usual too, there were thumbs-down signals, and raised middle fingers.

(Photo/Susan Garment)

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We’ve posted some spectacular bird photos, in our daily “Westport … Naturally” feature.

But this cardinal — perched at Wendy Levy’s Birdbuddy smart feeder — ranks right up there with the most colorful best.

(Photo courtesy of Wendy Levy)

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Longtime Westport resident Bette Hahner died peacefully on March at her home in Chatham, Massachusetts. She was 84.

The New York City native and her husband Jeff spent 28 enjoyable years here. In 2000, they retired and moved to Cape Cod.

Bette loved entertaining and gardening. In Westport she enjoyed throwing clambakes, corporate picnics and dinners for friends and neighbors.

In Chatham, in addition to many hours in her home gardens, she managed luncheons and events for the Chatham Garden Club, Monomoy Yacht Club, Chatham-Harwich Newcomers Club, CONCH and Friends of the Eldredge Library.

She recruited many member to the Garden Club. People loved working with her.

Bette worked seasonally for 15 years in the Chatham permit/sticker office, and knew nearly everyone in town. She then worked at the Freedom Ferry in Harwich Port, as a friendly face in the ticket office. For many years she also sold buttons at First Night Chatham headquarters.

Bette was a past president of the Chatham Garden Club, a board member of the Friends of the Eldredge Public Library, and active on the First Night Chatham Committee. In 2025 she was named grand marshal of Chatham’s July 4th parade.

She is survived by Jeff, her husband of 64 years, and son Tim of Bloomington, Minnesota. She also leaves her dog Emmie.

The family requests that donations be made in her name to the Chatham Garden Club.

A celebration of life will be held Saturday (April 18, 2 p.m.) at the First Congregational Church of Chatham.

Bette Hahner

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And finally … on this date in 1945, President Franklin D. Roosevelt died of a cerebral hemorrhage in Warm Springs, Georgia. He was 63, and in his 4th term.

Woody Guthrie wrote “Dear Mrs. Roosevelt,” in the style of many tribute letters the public wrote to the first lady after his death. There are 15 verses; at the end of each, Guthrie says, “This world was lucky to see him born.”

Guthrie never recorded the song. But Bob Dylan — an acolyte — found it, and rescued it from obscurity. He and The Band performed it at a Carnegie Hall Guthrie tribute concert in 1968. He has never played it since.

(Spring is here! But before you go outside to romp, please take a few seconds to click here, and support your hyper-local blog. That helps keep “06880” alive, through every season of the year. Thank you!)

 

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[OPINION] Cribari Committee Must Insist On “Honest Process”

Posted on April 12, 2026 | 10 comments

Werner Liepolt is a longtime Bridge Street resident. He writes:

On Thursday, 1st Selectman Kevin Christie announced a Cribari Bridge Advisory Committee.

That may sound reassuring.

But before anyone applauds, one question should be asked: Is this committee being formed to scrutinize the state’s process — or simply to give local cover to a decision already being pushed forward on an outdated record?

Because that is where things stand.

The state is moving toward a consequential decision on the future of the Cribari Bridge while relying on what it calls an “updated” Environmental Assessment that is, on close reading, still essentially the same document prepared in 2020.

First meeting of the Cribari Bridge Advisory Committee, in 2018. A new committee will soon be formed.

And Connecticut Department of Transportation officials say that kind of document has a shelf life of only 2 to 3 years.

So let’s stop pretending the issue is only what kind of bridge gets built.

The issue is whether Westport is being asked to accept a 2026 decision based on stale assumptions, stale analysis, and a process that no longer matches present reality.

I attended the first meeting of CTDOT’s Planning Advisory Committee in July 2018 as a federally recognized consulting party, because I live in the Bridge Street National Register Historic District.

At that meeting, CTDOT made the standard clear: Environmental Assessments do not last forever. After roughly 2 to three3 years, they must be revisited to account for changing conditions.

That was then.

At the March 19, 2026 public hearing, CTDOT presented a February 2026 version of the Environmental Assessment that appears to be little more than the 2020 document with a new date.

Cribari Bridge (Photo/Fred Cantor)

Yet the process rolls on:

  • Preferred alternative identified.
  • Public comment period underway.
  • Town leaders urged to engage.
  • Residents told their voices matter.

Fine. Then the first thing this new advisory committee should ask is obvious: Why is Westport being asked to react to a decision framework built on an expired study?

This matters because the bridge does not sit in some abstract engineering zone.

It sits in the Bridge Street Historic District, where setting, views, scale and patterns of neighborhood life are part of what is protected.

It also connects directly to Route 136 Scenic Highway, where preservation of visual character is not a sentimental talking point but part of the public purpose of the designation.

Start of the Route 136 Scenic Highway.

Since 2020, the surrounding conditions have plainly changed.

  • COVID transformed our demographic and altered our work habits.
  • Traffic patterns are different.
  • Navigation apps now push drivers through residential streets in real time.
  • Greens Farms Road already functions, at key hours, as a pressure valve for I-95 congestion.
  • Development in Saugatuck has intensified.

And nearby infrastructure changes raise entirely foreseeable questions about whether this corridor is being transformed, in practice, into something far more consequential than CTDOT’s analysis admits.

Residents do not need a consultant or an advisory committee to tell them that conditions have changed.

They live them.

What makes this even harder to defend is that the project’s own visual analysis appears partial. The review described in the current materials does not meaningfully capture winter visibility from elevated homes within the historic district, even though those views are part of the setting that gives the district its character.

The Bridge Street streetscape changes with the seasons.

So no, this is not just a procedural quibble.

It goes to the integrity of the entire decision-making process.

Because when a study is outdated, everything built on it becomes suspect: the alternatives analysis, the impact claims, the traffic assumptions, the mitigation discussion, and the town’s ability to say honestly that it has evaluated current conditions.

That is why the new advisory committee matters.

Not as a public-relations device.

Not as a way to calm people down.

Not as a stage on which local officials can appear engaged while the real framework remains untouched.

It matters only if it is willing to say, clearly and publicly, that Westport should not be boxed into commenting on a preferred option grounded in a stale Environmental Assessment.

Part of the state’s assessment of the Cribari Bridge.

Westport’s elected officials should be careful here.

A committee can be a tool for real scrutiny.

It can also be a way to absorb public anger while avoiding the central issue.

If this committee is serious, it should demand answers to a few basic questions immediately:

  • Why is a 2020 Environmental Assessment still serving as the foundation for a 2026 decision?
  • What exactly was reevaluated, and what was merely repackaged?
  • How were post-2020 traffic changes actually studied?
  • How were cumulative corridor impacts assessed?
  • Why should residents trust a process that appears to have updated the cover more than the analysis?

Those are not anti-bridge questions.

They are pro-accountability questions.

No one is asking for delay for delay’s sake.

What people are asking for is something much more modest and much more reasonable: that before Westport lends its name, its cooperation, or its political cover to this process, someone in authority insists that the underlying record reflect the world as it exists now — not as it looked 5 or 6 years ago.

The Cribari Bridge, in 2019. (Drone photo John Videler, for Videler Photography)

More than 1,600 people have signed a petition calling for federal oversight on the protection of Westport and the nation’s historic resources.

The March 19 hearing drew a packed room and a near unanimous, clear mandate.

The public has spoken with unusual clarity at the sole public hearing CTDOT has conducted on this project.

Now the question is whether this advisory committee will do anything more difficult than listen.

Because in the end, this is not just about what replaces the Cribari Bridge.

It is about whether Westport’s leaders will insist on an honest process — or help legitimize one that is already past its shelf life.

(“06880” Opinion pages are open to all. Email submissions to 06880blog@gmail.com. To support this hyper-local blog with a tax-deductible contribution, please click here.)

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Posted in Local politics, Politics, Saugatuck, Transportation

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Roundup: Mattress Recycling, Teen Voter Registration, Mr. Brainwash Art …

Posted on April 10, 2026 | 2 comments

Americans discard 20 million mattresses and box springs annually. 55,000 end up in incinerators and landfills each day.

Sustainable Westport can help.

On May 2 (8:30 to 11:30 a.m. Earthplace), they’re sponsoring a free mattress/ box spring recycling event.

Up to 90% of old mattresses can be recycled into new products, like carpet pads, exercise equipment cushioning, bike seats, insulation, air filters and steel materials.

Dry and unsoiled mattress and/or box springs are welcome. Please, none that are damaged, wet or contaminated (e.g., bed bugs).

If you can’t transport your mattress or box spring, Westport Scout Troop 36 will provide a pickup service for a small donation. Click here to register.

Scout Troop 36 helps with the mattress recycling drive.

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Who says today’s teenagers don’t care about the future of their country?

On Wednesday, the League of Women Voters of Westport partnered with US Vote Foundation to register seniors at Staples High School.

In just 2 1/2 hours, 118 students completed forms. Many others took forms with them, or captured a QR code to register, or make a plan to vote where they attend college.

Registering voters at Staples.

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Voter registration was just one part of Staples’ “Invest in Yourself” program.

The day-long event helped seniors build practical skills, as they prepare for life after high school.

A Financial Reality Fair and series of health and wellness workshops gave students hands-on experience with the kinds of decisions they will face as young adults.

In the Financial Reality Fair, held in partnership with Connecticut’s credit unions, students managed personal budgets based on their chosen career paths and projected net salaries.

At booths staffed by PTA and credit union volunteers, seniors made spending decisions about housing, transportation, utilities and other expenses, before reviewing their financial choices with financial professionals.

The health and wellness sessions included “Know Before You Go,” a sexual violence prevention program presented by the Rowan Center of Norwalk, and a documentary about the dangers of mixing alcohol and prescription drugs.

The sessions were followed by conversations with the Westport Police Department, Positive Directions, and Staples mental health professionals.

In addition Chartwells presented “Nutrition 101″L practical guidance for maintaining a healthy diet away from home.

Staples students, at “Invest in Yourself” Day.

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Van Gogh meets Mr. Brainwash at Clarendon Fine Art in Westport.

This month, the Main Street gallery — the British-based company’s first in the US — unveils a new collection.

Mr. Brainwash — who fuses street art, vibrant color, mixed media and cultural references, in an intriguing intersection of street art and contemporary pop — now reimagines Van Gogh’s most recognizable motifs.

The artist will be at Clarendon April 23 (6:30 to 8:30 p.m.). The exhibition is on view through May 3.

“Sunflowers Reimagined” (Mr. Brainwash)

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Carolyn Doan — Westport’s osprey whisperer — noticed a lot of activity at the Fresh Market osprey nest yesterday. She writes:

“Both raptors were relaxing in the sun. A few moments later they were visited by a third osprey, vying for the attention of the female. It was quickly chased away by the male after 2 low flying swoops.

“The couple then engaged in mating attempts, and relaxed some more in the sun. Mother Nature never disappoints…”

We won’t comment on their mating attempts. But if this spring is like previous ones, we’ll be welcoming another osprey pair back next year.

Fresh Market ospreys (Photo/Carolyn Doan)

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Speaking of wildlife: Scott Smith has enjoyed several sightings of a large flock of turkeys this spring at the H. Smith Richardson Wildlife Preserve, on the Southport border.

He writes: “I’m happy to stop for them as they cross Sasco Creek Road heading over to the Christmas Tree Farm from the meadow, which is being restored by the Connecticut Audubon Society.

“The big birds roost high up in trees at night, which is why a group of them is called a rafter.”

Scott adds that next week, Audubon will permanently ban dogs from the meadow, as well as the biggest parcel of the property: the open space that goes all the way to the playing fields of Greens Farms Academy.

He adds, “I can see why dog walkers would be upset — but not me, or the turkeys, or all the other field-nesting birds like the indigo bunting that call this rare habitat home.”

(Photo/Scott Smith)

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Roadwork — repairs, maintenance and improvements — are going on all over town.

This is the scene on Whitney Street, where sidewalks are being torn up, and trees removed, as the first steps in repaving the road and replacing sidewalks.

(Hat tip and photo/Molly Alger)

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Miles Davis is coming to the Levitt Pavilion.

Well, not quite.

But “Get Up With It! A Miles Davis Centennial Celebration” kicks off the 2026 season on May 24 (7 p.m.).

The event — honoring the jazz legend’s 100th birthday — features a longstanding project of The War on Drugs drummer (and Greens Farms Academy graduate) Charlie Hall.

Now in its third decade, the 10-person ensemble focuses on 3 of Davis’ most influential albums: 1969’s visionary “In a Silent Way,” the 1970 magnum opus “Bitches Brew,” and 1971’s “Jack Johnson.”

Tickets go on sale to the public on Sunday (April 12, 10 a.m.). Click here to purchase, and for more information.

Charlie Hall

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It’s pansy day!

Our “Westport … Naturally” featured photo comes from Saugatuck Congregational Church. It’s a beauty:

(Photo/John Maloney)

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And finally … Wayne Perkins, a guitarist who “injected Southern rock into the reggae of Bob Marley and the Wailers’ breakthrough album, ‘Catch a Fire,’ auditioned for a spot in the Rolling Stones and turned down an offer to join Lynyrd Skynyrd,” died last month in Alabama. He was 74, and had suffered a stroke.

Click here for a full obituary of this little-known, but greatly accomplished, musician.

(We hope you’ve enjoyed this week of “06880” Roundups, stories, photos and more. We’ll be here all weekend too. We hope too you’ll click here, to support our 24/7/365 work. Thank you!)

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