Category Archives: Saugatuck

Roundup: Cribari Petitions, Felice Opens, Wheels2U Savings …

Posted on March 1, 2026 | 1 comment

As the state Department of Transportation meeting about the Cribari Bridge nears (March 19, 6 p.m., Town Hall auditorium), 2 complementary petitions are circulating.

One — newly launched — calls for preservation of the 143-year-old span as a functional and picturesque community landmark. It emphasizes the bridge’s historic and visual importance to Westport, and urges that it be maintained as close to its present character as possible.

The petition says, “It’s essential that we keep the bridge a functional and picturesque icon, retaining its place not only in our community but also in our hearts. Click here to see.

An earlier petition focuses on a clear outcome: preserving the bridge itself.

It calls for full federal oversight and procedural transparency in the planning process. It asks that all required public engagement, regulatory review and historic preservation standards be fully and openly applied before decisions are finalized.

Specifically, it seeks confirmation that cumulative and long-term impacts — including effects on National Register structures and the Bridge Street Historic District — are thoroughly evaluated under applicable federal preservation guidelines. Click here to see. (Hat tip: Werner Liepolt)

The Cribari Bridge is the oldest one of its swing type in the country. (Photo/Mark Mathias)

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Westport’s newest restaurant opens tomorrow.

And — judging by a sneak preview yesterday — it will be one more jewel in the town’s culinary crown.

Felice takes over the 2nd-floor Main Street space occupied most recently by Mexicue. (Before that, it was Onion Alley and Bobby Q’s.)

In just a couple of months, they’ve done a complete makeover. The large, space has been made warm and inviting, with both Tuscany and contemporary décor. A large bar separates 2 rooms, with tables and banquettes.

Westport is Felice’s newest location, following very popular locations in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Long Island and Florida. Diners yesterday who love the Upper East Side restaurant say this one follows its worthy lead.

Felice will be open 7 days a week, for lunch (weekdays, 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.), dinner (Sunday through Thursday, 4 to 10:30 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 4 to 11 p.m.) and brunch (Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.).

Click here for more information. 

Ela Benedetti and Nina welcome guests to Felice. (Photo/Dan Woog)

A sampling of dishes.

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Wheels2U’s “Spring Savings” promotion makes the daily commute more affordable than ever. 

From today through April 30, riders can purchase a 10-trip bundle for the cost of 9 rides — just $18. That makes a single trip only $1.80. 

That’s a $13.80 savings per week over the daily cost of parking at the train station — over $55 a month. And it comes with door-to-platform service.

Non-commuters can use the savings on trips to the Senior Center, Jesup Green or the Library. Once downloaded, the rides never expire.

Open or download the Wheels2U app. Select “Ride Pass” from the menu; then select “Westport 10 Ride Pass.”

Wheels2U (Photo/Rick Jaffe)

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As graduation season approaches, singer-songwriter Owen Daniel has announced a graduation performance contest.

The winner of the contest — celebrating his new single, “Hundreds of Miles” — will get a live acoustic performance of the song at a graduation ceremony.

Daniel is an upcoming graduate himself. He is a senior at Weston High School.

“Hundreds of Miles” reflects on moving away from home, navigating emotional distance, and entering a new chapter of life. Its themes resonate too with anyone experiencing change or growth.

Students, parents and school administrators can enter by clicking here. The deadline is March 31.

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Tether —  the largest stablecoin company in the world — is investing $200 million into Whop.

That gives the platform — which connects buyers and sellers in the digital economy, focusing on influencers and content creators, and whose co-founder and chief technology officer is 2018 Staples High School graduate Jack Sharkey — a valuation of $1.6 billion.

Sharkey says the partnership “marks a major step in building the world’s largest internet market. Tether is committed to enabling everyone in the world to participate in the new internet economy. The way humans work and create value is changing fast. The world needs both an open internet market giving people a platform to conduct business, as well as a transparent payments network.

“There is enormous opportunity when you combine Tether’s global scale and wallet technology with Whop’s community of next generation entrepreneurs.

“In partnership with Tether, we will be scaling infrastructure in real-time for new business models as they emerge across the globe.”

Earlier investors include Bain Capital Ventures, The Motley Fool Ventures and Peter Thiel.

“They believed in us when Whop was just a sneaker bot rental marketplace,” Sharkey adds.

“My co-founders and I met as teenagers on the internet selling software. We first launched Whop as a way to sell our software to people in Facebook and Discord forums.

“Prior to Whop, the place we found customers was different from the place we collected payments, different from the place we talked to customers, and there wasn’t a central place to “do business” on the internet.”

Jack Sharkey (right) gets his entrepreneurial drive from his father Scott (left) — the founder of Westport-based Sharkey’s Cuts for Kids, and Every Home Should Have a Challah.

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Yesterday’s Roundup noted the death of Neil Sedaka — a 20-year Westport resident, beginning in the late 1970s.

When he headlined a Levitt Pavilion benefit concert in 1982, Miggs Burroughs interviewed him.

Miggs remembers him as “a very sweet and gentle man,” and sends this photo of them together:

Miggs Burroughs and Neil Sedaka

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“Spring is here! The doves are back,” Bobbi Essagof says.

Then she proves it, with this “Westport … Naturally” photo:

(Photo/Bobbi Essagof)

Did she speak too soon?

Today’s forecast is for snow during this morning, transitioning to snow showers in the afternoon. Temperatures will be in the mid-30s.

Temperatures for the coming week will bein the 40s — and possibly 54 on Friday.

Fingers crossed …

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And finally … one more tribute to our former neighbor, the late Neil Sedaka:

(February is already over — we’re 1/6 of the way through 2026. If you forgot your New Year’s resolution to help support “06880”: No problem! Just click here. And thank you!)

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Posted in Entertainment, Local politics, Restaurants, Saugatuck, technology, Transportation

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[OPINION] Looking Back — And Ahead — At Cribari Bridge

Posted on February 26, 2026 | 13 comments

Yulee Aronson is a licensed professional engineer, with 40 years of construction management and project controls experience, overseeing many high-profile and complex projects. He says, “I have never encountered a construction problem that couldn’t be overcome.”

Locally, Aronson has worked on the earlier renovation of the Cribari Bridge; the new Staples High School, and the chlorination building at the wastewater pollution facility. Other projects include Penn Station access, the reconstruction of La Guardia Airport, and the Baltimore Potomac Tunnel replacement. He writes:

I’d like to begin by the thanking the Representative Town Meeting for Tuesday’s Zoom meeting, and having an open and respectful discussion regarding the upcoming Connecticut Department of Transportation project that will affect most of us living in Westport for many years to come.

Also, I thank 1st Selectman Kevin Christie and State Representative Jonathan Steinberg for participating, and sharing their thoughts.

Over the course of my career I’ve been involved in many bridge rehabilitation and replacement projects.

Yulee Aronson

The Bridge Street Bridge, as it was called then, was my first. I wasn’t involved in the beginning phase, when a temporary bridge was built and the existing bridge was replaced.

I was involved in  the second phase: raising the newly constructed bridge, and removing the temporary one.

For context and in response to some of the comments Tuesday night: The original bridge wasn’t built lower before it was raised, as some may remember thinking at the time.

It certainly felt that way if you traveled under it in a kayak.

The reason is a difference in the structural design. The original historic bridge was supported by floor beams resting on trusses. The floor beams ran north/south, and kayakers could travel between them during high tide.

When the bridge was replaced, the trusses no longer served any practical purpose. They were installed as a decorative feature, to preserve the historic look of the bridge.

Instead, deep girders were installed in an east/west direction, denying kayakers access during high tide.

Westporters complained and protested, calling for bridge openings 10 times a day until the state agreed to raise the structure. Now here we are again.

I evaluated proposals by the state as they relate to the proposed bridge elevations. They are:

It appears that the state proposes to elevate the bridge 10 feet, to keep the machinery above the 100-year flood elevation, either on alignment or offset.

What “on alignment” means

The distance between the intersection with Riverside Ave and the west abutment is 45 feet+/-. Even if the grade was flat (and it is not), to go up 10 feet in 45 feet, you’d need 22% slope. So, elevating the bridge “on alignment” is not a real option.

Elevating the bridge off alignment may look like the old temporary bridge.

Temporary bridge (left), during early 1990s renovation of what was then called the Bridge Street Bridge. 

If the new bridge follows similar alignment, why does it need to be movable?

Forty years ago, the bridge was replaced in open position. So for several years marine traffic passed under the temporary bridge. Regulators, including the Coast Guard, permitted this.

I was not involved in the permitting process, and I don’t recall the height of the temporary bridge, but it wasn’t nearly as tall as the one carrying I-95 traffic.

There are issues with this option as well. Is there availability of land to build the bridge as shown in the photo? And how do we address impacts to wetlands on the northeast side. There are other potential environmental challenges too.

Let’s keep our ideas flowing, Westport!

(The “06880” Opinion pages are open to all. Please send submissions to 06880blog@gmail.com. To help support this hyper-local blog, please click here.)

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Posted in Local politics, Saugatuck, Transportation

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RTM: Committee Could Advocate For Cribari Bridge

Posted on February 25, 2026 | 2 comments

Representative Town Meeting (RTM) members spoke — and listened — last night, in a Zoom session focused on one topic: the Cribari Bridge.

The session was organized by RTM rep Matthew Mandell, in response to concerns about the future of the 143-year-old span — the oldest swing bridge of its kind in the country.

As a March 19 meeting (6 p.m., Town Hall auditorium) with the state Department of Transportation looms, members from RTM Districts 1, 4 and 9 — all encompassing or close to Saugatuck and Greens Farms – hoped to gain input and find consensus on possible action.

They discussed — and the public reinforced — concerns about traffic, safety, and a process many feel is already preordained by the state Department of Transportation.

In the end, support was strong for a committee — appointed by 1st Selectman Kevin Christie, and including RTM members — to give clear guidance to DOT, regarding the town’s wishes and demands.

Christie said he would discuss the idea with others. A sense of the meeting resolution may be voted on Tuesday, when the RTM meets next.

Last night’s meeting drew, at one point, 140 people. Matthew Mandell — the District 1 representative who organized the session — said the goal was for the town to plan how to work with DOT on a solution that’s good for “the residents and the state.”

“The RTM must champion residents’ efforts, no matter how it’s built,” Jennifer Johnson (District 9) said. She, like many others, noted the importance of not allowing Route 136  and Greens Farms Road to become a “truck route.”

Cribari Bridge (Photo/Whitmal Cooper)

Fellow District 9 rep Kristin Schneeman cited 2 distinct areas to examine: the engineering and design of the bridge, and the policy that drives discussion of its rehabilitation or replacement.

District 9 member Nancy Kail pressed for the involvement of Senators Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy, and Representative Jim Himes.

With much of the discussion revolving around Bridge Street, 2 speakers pointed to the bridge’s impact on other parts of town.

Lou Mall — an RTM member whose District 2 includes the often-gridlocked Riverside Avenue/Post Road West/Wilton Road intersection — said that whatever happens at Bridge Street will “squeeze the balloon,” with traffic affecting other parts of town.

Robbie Guimond, who lives on Riverside Avenue and owns a marina there, asked, “Why is the RTM so insistent on protecting one part of Westport — Bridge Street — at the expense of another?”

Town residents expressed frustration with the town’s previous dealings with DOT.

“They’re running roughshod over us,” said Valerie Seiling Jacobs, co-chair of Save Westport Now. “We know the answers they’ll give us on March 19. They’re not going to collaborate with us — they’ve made that clear.”

One example: DOT “did not require contractors to have any experience in historic renovation” when they sent information on possible bids.

“How many times do we have to ask questions, and get hit over the head?” Jacobs asked. “The DOT has said that the bridge will be built to (its) code. We need a strategy, and a solution, before the 19th.”

Nearly everyone agreed that something must — and will — be done to the Cribari Bridge. The issues were twofold: What will it be? And what role will Westport have in the process?

“Safety and careful planning are not conflicting goals,” said Werner Liepolt, a Bridge Street resident who has been active in the issue for years.

Westporter Ray Broady looked at the decade-long debate about the future of the Cribari Bridge, and the many proposals, arguments and counter-arguments that keep cropping up.

“This is Whac-a-Mole,” he said.

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Posted in Local politics, Saugatuck, Transportation, Westport life

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[OPINION] Cribari Bridge: Reject “False Choice”; Adopt “Adaptive Rehabilitation Alternative”

Posted on February 24, 2026 | 8 comments

Tonight, there’s a Zoom meeting organized by several Representative Town Meeting members to discuss the Cribari Bridge (7 p.m., Zoom). The public is invited; click here for the link.

This afternoon, Save Westport Now co-chairs Valerie Seiling Jacobs and Ian Warburg released an open letter to Westporters. They say:

Contrary to the state Department of Transportation’s claims, not all bridges need to be rebuilt to current standards in order to remain safe and functional.

At least 2 other historic bridges in Connecticut have been successfully rehabilitated by DOT — without bringing them up to current code. In other words, there is a way to balance modern transportation needs with historic preservation.

That is not just a preservationist talking point. That is the key point in the Cribari Bridge debate.

And it is consistent with CTDOT’s own historic bridge framework.

In CTDOT’s 2002 “Historic Bridge Inventory Update,” the agency explains that the inventory is designed not only to identify historic bridges, but also to guide treatment in ways that avoid adverse effects and support proper review under federal historic-preservation law.

It also references CTDOT’s earlier Historic Bridge Inventory and Preservation Plan, which specifically addressed how to avoid adverse effects to historic bridges.

That matters because the Cribari Bridge is not a generic piece of infrastructure. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and sits within the Bridge Street Historic District.

Yet despite repeated statements that no final decision has been made, the process appears to be moving toward a demolition-and-replacement outcome that would produce a much larger bridge, with a very different traffic profile.

Let’s be blunt: A bigger bridge is not just a bridge design decision. It is a traffic decision.

If Westport allows a larger, highway-scaled replacement that can more easily accommodate heavy vehicles, we should not be surprised when more I-95 spillover traffic — including trucks — is funneled onto local roads.

Bridge Street and Greens Farms Road were not designed to serve as an informal regional bypass. They are neighborhood roads used by residents, pedestrians, cyclists, school buses and local businesses.

Bridge Street traffic. (Photo/Werner Liepolt)

This is where the debate has been too narrow. We are not just being asked whether we want an old bridge or a new bridge. We are being asked whether Westport will accept a state project that could change the function of this corridor, making it more attractive for non-local through traffic while the consequences are borne by Saugatuck and Greens Farms.

Westport Journal reported that the state’s environmental assessment reviewed 5 alternatives (including 2 rehabilitation options and 2 replacement options), and that CTDOT/Federal Highway Administration identified replacement alternatives as best able to address structural and functional issues while improving sidewalks, bike access, and mobility.

It also reported an estimated $78–$86 million cost and roughly 3-year construction duration for in-place replacement. Those are serious considerations.

But they do not answer the central questions Westporters are asking:

  • Why is a context-sensitive rehabilitation alternative not getting full, good-faith evaluation?
  • Why is the likely effect on local traffic patterns — including truck cut-through — not front and center?
  • Why does a historic bridge in a historic district seem to be treated as though standardization is the only responsible option?

Cribari Bridge (Photo/Patricia McMahon)

CTDOT’s own historic bridge work undermines that “one-size-fits-all” narrative.

In its 2022 update, CTDOT explicitly distinguished between ordinary bridges and those requiring additional consideration. The report identified common-type bridges in or adjacent to historic districts, and separately screened for “exceptional” bridges whose design, aesthetics or context warranted special treatment.

In other words, CTDOT’s own framework recognizes what residents have been saying all along: Context, scale, and design matter.

The report’s own examples prove the point. CTDOT flagged as “exceptional” bridges like:

  • West Cornwall Covered Bridge (award-winning CTDOT preservation example)
  • Bridge 00658 in Hamden (Route 15 over Whitney Avenue), noted for ornamental features and parkway context
  • Bridge 00796 in Wallingford (Yale Avenue over Route 15), recognized for aesthetic treatment
  • Bridge 03697 in Fairfield (Brookside Drive over the Mill River), a modest concrete slab bridge set apart in part because of ornamental railing and visual character.

West Cornwall Covered Bridge

If those bridges merit heightened sensitivity because of design and context, how can Cribari — a nationally recognized bridge in a historic district — be denied the same seriousness?

CTDOT’s report also includes Westport’s own Saugatuck River Swing Bridge (Bridge No. 01349) among previously listed National Register bridges reviewed in the update, and it notes that CTDOT’s actions over prior decades helped preserve Connecticut’s engineering heritage as reflected in its bridges.

Westport should insist that this preservation ethic apply to the Cribari Bridge now — not just in retrospective reports.

We support safety improvements. We support better pedestrian and bicycle access. We support long-term infrastructure reliability. But Westport should reject the false choice between “do nothing” and “build a bigger bridge that changes the corridor.”

Cribari Bridge, at Riverside Avenue.

The town should formally demand evaluation of an Adaptive Rehabilitation Alternative that is engineered for safety and designed to discourage regional cut-through traffic:

  • Split-and-widen rehabilitation of the existing truss (not demolition and highway-scaled replacement).

A split-and-widen strategy — used elsewhere on historic truss bridges — can preserve the bridge while improving lane geometry, sidewalks and bike access.

That approach asks the right question: How do we make Cribari safer and more functional, without transforming it into a larger-capacity conduit? Here’s an example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yys_4XPqbtA

  • Narrow crash-rail retrofit instead of bulky highway

There are compliant crash-rail systems designed for historic bridges that improve safety while preserving width, sightlines and visual proportion. Barrier design is not cosmetic. It directly affects whether the bridge remains context-sensitive or becomes a pseudo-highway structure.

  • Repair and strengthen piers/buttresses using preservation

If substructure work is needed, do it — but in a way consistent with National Park Service standards for historic resources. Structural integrity and historic integrity are not mutually exclusive. Competent engineering can deliver both.

  • Design explicitly for local safety and access — not truck

Westport should insist that any alternative be evaluated for its likely effect on traffic behavior, including whether it would increase the corridor’s attractiveness as an I-95 spillover route for trucks and heavy through traffic. The goal should be safer local use, not a state-engineered invitation for non-local traffic.

Here are 3 facts Westporters should not ignore.

First: This is not simply a preservation fight. It is a neighborhood safety, traffic pattern, and quality of life fight.

Second: Process concerns are real. Whatever one thinks about the engineering, the public has every right to demand full transparency, lawful historic review, and genuine consideration of alternatives before the outcome becomes effectively irreversible.

Third: Westporters are paying attention. A petition seeking greater oversight and federal review has now passed 1,000 signatures. That level of concern is not noise. It is a warning that residents believe the process is moving too fast and the stakes are too high.

This is not a choice between history and safety. It is a choice about whether Westport will settle for a state solution that may make our neighborhoods less safe and more congested — or insist on one that protects safety, lawful process, historic character and sensible local traffic patterns, including discouraging truck cut-through from I-95 spillover.

A public hearing is scheduled for March 19 at Westport Town Hall. Public comments run through April 17. If you care about Saugatuck, Greens Farms, and how major decisions get made in this town, now is the time to show up and speak up.

(“06880” Opinion pages are open to all. Please email submissions to 06880blog@gmail.com.)

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Posted in Local politics, Saugatuck, Transportation

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Cribari Bridge Petition Nears 1,000 Signatures

Posted on February 24, 2026 | 19 comments

A petition begun by Bridge Street National Register District resident Werner Liepolt is nearing 1,000 signatures.

Calling the Cribari Bridge — which links his road with Saugatuck — “more than just a piece of infrastructure; it is a cherished symbol of our heritage, tying together the historical fabric of our neighborhood,” Liepolt says: “The sudden decision to replace such an irreplaceable landmark raises concerns not only within our community but also nationwide, as it sets a precedent for how historic sites might be handled without proper oversight.

“Why hasn’t there been an effort to engage the community in this critical decision-making process? The lack of transparency undermines the principles of fair public policy and overlooks the historical significance that this bridge brings to our region.”

Petition organizer Werner Liepolt painted this Cribari Bridge scene.

The Change.org petition is aimed at 8 “decision makers”: Governor Ned Lamont, Senators Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy, Congressman Jim Himes, State Senator Ceci Maher, State Representative Jonathan Steinberg, Planning & Zoning Commissioner Michael Cammeyer, and Representative Town Meeting member Nancy Kail.

The petition adds: “It is imperative that the federal government steps in to ensure that the CTDOT considers all perspectives, from engineering experts to local residents, and follows due process in accordance with National Historic Preservation guidelines.



“The preservation of the William F. Cribari Bridge is essential for maintaining the cultural and architectural identity of our region, and its replacement should not proceed without an exhaustive review and input from all stakeholders involved. We need comprehensive federal oversight to guarantee that all alternatives are evaluated and that the richly historic and irreplaceable nature of the bridge is given due consideration.”

Liepolt says that signers “demand federal oversight over the Connecticut Department of Transportation’s plans to replace the William F. Cribari Bridge. Together, we can safeguard the integrity of our cherished historic landmark and ensure a democratic process respects both our heritage and community voice. Let us be vigilant in protecting our past for the generations to come.”

Click here to see the online petition.

(“06880” covers the Cribari Bridge controversy — and everything else going on in Westport too. If you appreciate our 24/7/365 eye on the town, please click here to support our work. Thank you!)

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Posted in Local politics, Politics, Saugatuck, Transportation

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Old Mill Deli, Cribari Bridge: The Latest News

Posted on February 20, 2026 | 6 comments

There are 2 big issues in Westport this week: Old Mill Grocery, and the Cribari Bridge.

“06880” is following both closely. Here are yesterday’s developments.

In the aftermath of Wednesday’s ruling by Superior Court Judge Dale Radcliffe, sustaining the plaintiffs’ lawsuit against Old Mill Grocery & Deli, town attorney Ira Bloom told “06880”:

My law partners and I have been reviewing the trial court decision carefully. We continue to disagree with the trial court’s analysis. The trial court sustained the appeal by the neighbors, thus voiding the text changes, and specifically ordered OMG to cease any activities inconsistent with the lawful preexisting use, including the sale of alcohol.

At this point I need to confer with the Planning & Zoning Commission, First Selectman Christie, and counsel for OMG to review our options. I will have more information in a few days. To answer your question regarding the other 2 properties (Gruel Britannia and The Country Store on Wilton Road), yes, they are also directly impacted by the court decision.

Bloom added:

Appeals in land use cases are not automatic. A party desiring to appeal a trial court decision must file a Petition for Certification to the Appellate Court, which is a request to the Appellate Court to take the case on appeal.

The petition must state the grounds. It is then discretionary with the Appellate Court. Any party has 20 days from the trial court decision to file a petition.

Old Mill Grocery & Deli. (Photo/Nathan Greenbaum)

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As part of its ongoing study of the Cribari Bridge rehabilitation/replacement project, the state Department of Transportation has released a detailed Environmental Assessment and Evaluation.

The 160-page document offers details of the current bridge, including history, traffic, functional issues, and controversy over its future.

The bulk of the report covers “environment and environmental consequences,” spanning property acquisition, socioeconomics, traffic, public safety, visual and aesthetics, cultural resources, water quality, navigable waters, wetlands, floodplains and coastal resources.

Five alternatives are mentioned throughout:

  • No build
  • Conservation
  • Rehabilitation
  • Replacement on-alignment
  • Replacement off-alignment.

DOT consistently offers “replacement on-alignment” — the same alignment as the existing structure — as its preferred alternative.

Click here for the full report. (Hat tip: Robbie Guimond)

Cribari Bridge, as shown in DOT Environmental report …

… and an aerial view, from the same document.

(“06880” is your 24/7/365 source for Westport news — and events, history, features, photos, and much, much more. Please click here to support our work — and help us continue this coverage. Thank you!)

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Posted in Beach, Local business, Local politics, Politics, Saugatuck, Transportation

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Roundup: Hamlet, Hoop Dreams, Help From Rotary …

Posted on February 17, 2026 | 11 comments

Hamlet is dead.

That is: The Hamlet at Saugatuck project has officially ended

ROAN Ventures — developer of the proposed retail/residential/hotel/marina project — withdrew their lawsuit.

If successful, the suit — filed in August — would have overturned the Planning & Zoning Commission’s rejection of the proposal.

The withdrawal occurred last week. It was reported yesterday by Westport Journal.

What’s next for the property, bordered by Riverside Avenue, Railroad Place and Charles Street?

Stay tuned.

Artist’s rendering of the Hamlet at Saugatuck project.

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Hoop dreams have come true for over 50 youngsters in Santo Domingo.

They’re the recipients of uniforms and basketballs, donated by Westport residents through Westport PAL.

Full Court Peace — a Norwalk organization that provides equipment to under-served communities — facilitated the delivery. They run frequent trips to the Dominican Republic, to repair courts and support youth leagues.

Boys in Santo Domingo sport Westport basketball jerseys.

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The Westport Rotary and Sunrise Rotary Clubs join their Norwalk and Wilton Rotary colleagues this Saturday, to help ease food insecurity.

At the Saugatuck Congregational Church event, dozens of volunteers will pack 12,500 nutritious meals. The clubs will then deliver them to Homes With Hope in Westport and Open Doors in Norwalk, for distribution through food pantries.

The church is providing the space, and custodial setup and cleanup, at no charge.

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Many Westporters hope to make a change in the world.

Few know how to do it.

On February 25 (7 p.m., Westport Library, Jacqueline Corbelli discusses her new book, “Changemaker: A Modern Playbook for Creating Personal Impact and Transformational Change.”

It’s a hometown event. Corbelli — a Westport resident — knows something about making a lasting impact.

As the first female founder in the advertising technology industry, she pioneered interactive TV with her company BrightLine. Her technology platform SustainChain addresses global sustainability and justice.

Locally, Corbelli organized a 24-hour relief drive after 9/11, at Toquet Hall. Click here for her website. 

Jacqueline Corbelli

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A personal note on the death of Rev. Jesse Jackson.

Many years ago, I was in San Francisco. I checked out of my hotel in the morning, and had several hours before my flight.

I looked in the newspaper for something interesting to do. Jesse Jackson was speaking at a church. What a great opportunity to see a national figure1

It turned out to be a Black church. I was the only white person, in a very large crowd.

After his speech — eloquent, inspiring, delivered in a setting he was intimately familiar with — I joined a long reception line.

His large hand enveloped mine. He looked me in the eye, and smiled.

“Thank you for coming, brother,” Rev. Jackson said.

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Jazz pianist Matt DeChamplain brings his James P. Johnson-, Fats Waller-, Willie “The Lion” Smith- and Art Tatum-influenced talents to Jazz at the Post this Thursday (February 19, VFW Post 399; shows at 7:30 and 8:45 p.m.; dinner from 7).

He’s joined by long time associates Matt Dwonszyk (bass) and Jonathan Barber (drums), plus Kerry MacKillop (trumpet) and Greg “The Jazz Rabbi” Wall (saxophone).

 Click here for tickets, and more information.

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Richard Fogel sends today’s de-“light”-ful “Westport … Naturally” photo:

(Photo/Richard Fogel)

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And finally … the New York Times buried the lede.

A recent obituary began:

Jerry Kennedy, the guitarist, producer and record executive who had a major hand in shaping the music being made in Nashville in the 1960s and ’70s, including chart-topping hits by Roger Miller, Roy Orbison, Tom T. Hall and Tammy Wynette, died on Wednesday in hospice care in Franklin, Tenn. He was 85.

It was not until paragraph 8 that we learn he “unleash(ed) the ferocious guitar solo” that opens “Oh, Pretty Woman.”

Well, maybe.

Wikipedia says it was Billy Sanford.

Either way, it clearly was not Roy Orbison.

Which is what I always assumed, for the past 60-plus years.

Hey: At least music’s best growl ever is his.

ENCORE: If you thought the #1 version of the song couldn’t get better … well, listen to this:

(“06880” is where Westport meets Roy Orbison. It doesn’t get better than that. Well, unless you click here to support our work. Mercy!)

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Posted in Entertainment, Local politics, Politics, Real estate, Saugatuck, Sports

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State DOT Describes Cribari Bid Document, March Meeting

Posted on February 12, 2026 | 7 comments

Yesterday, “06880” posted news from Representative Town Meeting member Matthew Mandell about the Connecticut Department of Transportation’s release of a bid document for the Cribari Bridge.

In response, DOT communications director Josh Morgan says: “CTDOT has made no decision whether to perform a major rehabilitation or full replacement of the Cribari Bridge.

“Given the complexities of performing work on this historic structure, it was important to have firms lined up for either potential option to ensure construction schedules are met.

“As noted numerous times in the Request for Letters-of-Interest, CTDOT was seeking prequalified firms for both major rehabilitation and replacement options of the bridge.

“If design firms were solicitated after the public hearing and after a formal decision was made, there would have been a significant impact to the construction schedule,” he explains.

Cribari Bridge (Photo/Nancy Lally)

In related news, the state DOT will hold a public hearing on March 19 (6 p.m., Town Hall), on “Rehabilitation/Replacement of the Cribari Memorial Bridge.”

The session will “provide the community with an opportunity to learn about the proposed project, and allow a place to provide feedback concerning the proposed improvements.”

The project involves “a resilient structure that addresses the structural and functional deficiencies of the the existing Cribari Memorial Bridge, which carries Route 136 over the Saugatuck River, while accommodating safe vehicular, bicycle, pedestrian and marine traffic,” the announcement adds.

DOT spokesman Morgan notes that the flyer includes both potential options: rehabilitation and replacement.

Morgan says, “We know there is interest in this project, which is why we created that Save the Date flyer so people could mark their calendars before legal notices ran in the local papers. These public notices will be published over the next several weeks inviting the public to attend the March 19 hearing. We encourage residents, businesses, and those interested in the future of the Cribari Bridge to attend the public hearing, ask questions, and give feedback.”

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Posted in Local politics, Politics, Saugatuck, Transportation

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Cribari Bridge Design: Already Out To Bid

Posted on February 11, 2026 | 12 comments

Matthew Mandell is a Representative Town Meeting member from District 1. 

It includes Saugatuck — and the Cribari Bridge.

Late last night, Mandell sent out a Paul Revere-style email. Referring to the state Department of Transportation (DOT), he wrote:

THE DOT HAS GONE TO BID FOR THE DESIGN OF THE (NEW) BRIDGE

I think this comes as news to all of us. We were waiting for a follow up meeting after the December meeting that left most nonplussed.

Here is the bid, due back March 5.

Cribari Bridge (Drone photo/Alex O’Brien)

The question is: How can the DOT go to bid if the Environmental Study is not complete, as well as the Section 106 Federal Historic Study also being incomplete?

Maybe they can, but it seems out of order. It certainly catches us all by surprise. (For a previous”06880″story on Section 106, click here.)

There is also a DOT meeting set for Westport on March 19. I surely had not heard about this one either, but there it was on the site. Click here to see the flyer.

Here is the whole DOT site to read about all aspects of the bridge and project.

This is a bit befuddling for sure.

Timing is everything. In the last few days, hearing from concerned residents regarding the bridge, RTM Districts 1, 4 and 9, as the closest districts to the bridge, were planning to have a public meeting to discuss the bridge.

We wanted to also hear from the public as well. in a different venue than that of a DOT meeting. There has not be something close to a resident discussion since the PAC in 2018.

While there are different views on what should be done, the idea of large trucks seems to be a common thread. We are working on a date toward the end of the month. It will be via Zoom.

(Other RTM districts, hold tight. I spoke with the moderator. Let’s get this one going and have it not be a meeting of the body. Attend if you want of course, and it can expand if needed as we move forward.)

I always say we need to remain vigilant. Thanks to a diligent ally who went to the site to simply take a look at what might be up.

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Remembering Pete Romano

Posted on February 4, 2026 | 33 comments

Pete Romano — a son of Saugatuck, proud Staples High School graduate, lover of Westport, hands-on volunteer, philanthropist,  guiding force behind the LandTech engineering and land use firm, and a link between our town’s past, present and future — died last night.

A full obituary will be posted soon. He was diagnosed with cancer last year.

Pete Romano, in his native Saugatuck.

I was honored to consider Pete a friend.

Of course, I was just part of a very long, and extremely varied, list of friends. A typical Pete production — his LandTech holiday party — was filled with everyone you could think of: business associates, clients, town officials, sports figures,  random folks from every part of Westport life.

Pete greeted us all as if we were the only person in the crowded room. When he asked “How are you doing?” he really listened to the answer. He got everyone a drink, personally. And then he introduced every person to someone they didn’t know, but who was also part of Pete’s world.

Pete Romano was the ultimate people person. There can be no greater tribute than the number of people whose lives he touched — even the few he did not know.

In 2016, Pete Romano participated in Elderhouse’s “Dancing with the Stars” benefit. He raised over $15,000 for the adult day care center. 

In 2006, as head boys soccer coach at Staples High, I led a project to “terrace the hill” at Loeffler Field.

Pete donated his time, energy and expertise to the project — as he had to so many others over the years, and continued to do for years thereafter.

He provided the engineering. He sourced the 10 tons of granite from Gault (at a very good price). He oversaw the process.

And he waved off every bit of thanks. “It’s for the kids. It’s what they deserve,” he said quietly.

Generations of players and fans have benefited from that project. It was small potatoes to Pete; he did things like that every day, all his life.

But it was Pete Romano, to the core.

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In 2019, Jeff Seaver nominated Pete Romano for our “06880” Unsung Hero feature. He had been friends, and worked with, Pete  for 7 years. Jeff’s words are as appropriate now as they were then.

Walking around town with Pete Romano is like going for a stroll with the mayor: folks say hello everywhere he goes. Pete’s well known not just for his expertise in running Landtech — an engineering and environmental firm on Riverside Avenue — but also for his community service. His reputation spans generations.

His father, PJ Romano, grew up in Westport. He was a PAL volunteer for almost 50 years. The athletic field behind Saugatuck Elementary School is named for him, honoring his role in developing PAL’s football, baseball, wrestling and other programs, including the ice rink at Longshore.

Pete’s mom, Joan Romano, still volunteers with PAL. That spirit continues, as Pete maintains a strong family tradition of service.

Pete played baseball and football at Staples High School. His mom recalls that Pete “would knock a player down, but then afterward, stop to help pick them up.”

Working with his longtime friend and partner at Saugatuck Sweets, Al DiGuido, Pete is one of the forces behind DiGuido’s legendary Al’s Angels charity. Last year, Pete helped organize and oversee over 2,500 holiday meals to help those in need.

Pete Romano (left) with his mother Joan, and Al DiGuido, at Saugatuck Sweets.

Al DiGuido said, “I have never thought of Pete Romano as a hero. I doubt he regards himself that way. He just has a tireless passion for doing the heavy lifting for those in need, which inspires me and so many others.

“Pete doesn’t seem to need or want the spotlight. He’s not looking for trophies, awards or accolades. I think he does this because it’s in his DNA. His family has always been committed to doing all they could to help the community. Some are content to sit on the sidelines, but Pete gets his hands dirty doing the hard work that is truly needed.”

But Pete has a superhero alter ego. Every Christmas he plays Santa Claus. He arrives on a Westport Police patrol boat at Saugatuck Center, lighting the tree and entertaining kids.

Here comes Pete — er, Santa Claus!

His good works could fill a book. They include being a major contributor to the renovation of the Westport Weston Family YMCA, and helping sponsor events for the American Cancer Society, Project Return, Elderhouse, Operation Hope,  Westport Rotary, Little League Softball, plus many other local causes.

Bill Mitchell has been a pal of Pete’s for many years. They support many of the same causes, including Operation Hope and Project Runway. Bill notes, “Pete and his family have been a gift to our community.”

Steve Smith, Westport’s building inspector, said, “Pete Romano is a successful community leader who is generous and always willing to help out a community cause. He has given his time to our town unselfishly — and always with his characteristically great sense of humor.”

Phil Cerrone, an architect who has partnered in a number of efforts with Pete’s firm, said, “Pete is one of the most caring and considerate people I know. He can always be relied on to help a friend in need. Just as important, he can also be counted on to supply top quality food and drink!”

One of Pete’s most treasured causes is Wakeman Town Farm. Pete often joins with his friend, architect Peter Wormser, scooping ice cream at the Farm’s special events.

Pete Romano and Peter Wormser, at Wakeman Town Farm.

Pete always has time for Westport schools. He and his firm helped create the night lights at the Staples High School football field, the fields at Bedford Middle School, and the Loeffler Field terrace (granite seating on the soccer field hill).

He is a generous supporter of Staples sports teams, Staples Players and middle school theater productions, the Staples robotics team, and more.

Pete’s firm collaborates with Gault Energy on many projects. Gault family members are effusive in their praise. Ginger Gault and Jimmy Donaher say, “He has keen insight to go along with a big heart, and on top of everything else, he’s hysterically funny. Pete is the complete package.”

He is especially proud of his 2 daughters. They went through the Westport School System, and are now smart, vibrant, strong women. Pete said, “They got the best public education one could dream of. How do you ever repay that debt?”

Pete Romano

Pete celebrated a birthday recently. As with many hard-working and generous folks, one of the hardest challenge is figuring out what to give them.

What do you give a man like Pete Romano who does not have everything, but gives everything?

The only answer is: love and genuine appreciation for all that he does.

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