“People move here because they love the country. Then they get rid of everything that’s country.”
That’s Ken Novenstern’s pithy analysis of Westport homeowners.
The attorney speaks from experience. His home off Kings Highway North sits downhill from new construction, and property with far fewer trees than when he moved in 10 years ago.
It’s also a short walk from downtown. There, he’s seen the effect of ever-more-frequent flooding — caused, as his own neighborhood’s is, in part by the ever-more-frequent removal of trees.
A home near the Novensterns’, before teardown.
Novenstern does not think there’s a better way — he knows there is. From 1988 through 2013 he lived in New Castle, New York. He served as a councilman, and on its Conservation Board. on its Conservation Board. He was a member too of the Saw Mill River Audubon board.
Though New Castle is just 34 miles from Westport, right over the border in Westchester County, regulations are far different, he says. There, they prohibit — or at least strongly discourage — clear-cutting and similar actions. “There has to be a good reason to take a tree down, especially in a buffer.”
They also regulate the size of new homes.
“There’s less regulation in New England,” he says. “That translates to little power for planning boards to prevent taking down trees.”
Near his own home, one uphill property owner removed a number of trees to create a play area. Meanwhile, he says, he can “almost touch” a new nearby home.
A pair of Capes have been replaced by 5,000-6,000 square foot homes. During construction, “they cut down every tree and weed on the property.” When flooding resulted, “the contractor put gravel in a drainage ditch. That was it.”
Last week, “a couple took down a beautiful oak tree. The wife didn’t like acorns falling on their cars.”
Several years ago, Novenstern sought advice from Town Hall. He says an engineer told him simply, “Water flows downhill.”
Water flows downhill, long after the rain ends.
He learned that in Connecticut, a tree warden can only protect trees on public property and rights of way. “What percentage of town is that?” he asks rhetorically.
“Planning boards need more power to protect and preserve,” Novenstern reiterates. “It’s incredible there is no oversight, planning or thought given to the impact on neighboring properties of removing trees.”
Too many people, he says, “don’t seem to appreciate the significance of trees. ‘We have enough,'” they seem to think. “If take down a few, it won’t matter.”
The problem, Novenstern notes, is not simply this administration’s.
“It probably goes back decades. No one has ever addressed it.
“No one in New England wants to be told what they can do on their own property. I thought our society was premised on the common good.”
Another view near the Novensterns’ home.
Thirty years ago in Westchester, Novenstern says, he helped pass legislation including building bulk, limiting impervious surfaces, and expanding wetland buffers. He also helped secure an Open Space Preservation Fund.
Later, involved with a community land trust, he helped develop strategies for runoff in open spaces.
“I’ve been here 10 years,” he says. “It seems like there’s no plan at all. It doesn’t seem like the Planning & Zoning Commission does much more than tell people they can do pretty much as they want. Maybe they don’t have the power to do more.
“It’s crazy,” Novenstern concludes. “No one is watching the store. If it’s this bad today, what will it be like 15 or 20 years from today?”
(“06880” often covers the environment, and real estate — and, like today, their intersection. If you appreciate stories like this, please click here to support our work. Thank you!)
On November 12 (7 p.m., Bedford Middle School), the Westport Police Department and Connecticut Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection offer an eye-opening presentation: “Behind the Screen: What Parents Need to Know About Online Safety.”
You’ll learn about networks like 764, which target teenagers through gaming, social media and other online communities.
Do you know what they’re watching?
new juice bar, bowl spot opening downtown
Spilling the tea: Barvida is coming to Westport.
The juice bar — offering (in its words) “organic, plant-based smoothies, cold-pressed juices, superfood bowls, and gourmet toasts, health food with zero compromise on flavor” — will move soon into vacant Post Road East space, on the block anchored by South Moon Under.
“Coming when it’s done,” the storefront says semi-helpfully.
Hill sat for a candid evening of stories, laughs, revelations, and behind-the-curtain moments — with Emmy winner Jeff Hiller
Murray Hill, at the Westport Library. (Photo/DinkinESH Fotografix)
WESTERN CONNECTICUT HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN
Eighteen communities have worked with the Western Connecticut Council of Governments to update the Western Connecticut Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan.
It outlines actions to take to reduce losses of property and life due to natural disasters like floods, severe wind, winter storms, wildfires, droughts, extreme heat events and earthquakes.
A virtual meeting on October 22 (6 p.m., Zoom) will provide information about the plan. Attendees will have a chance to ask questions about their communities.
WestCOG is approaching the completion of its Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan Update for 2026 and is moving into the public comment process. WestCOG is kicking this process off with a webinar to summarize the content of the plan and collect questions and comments from the public.
How can we mitigate future natural hazards? WestCOG could help. (Photo/Stacie Curran)
CLASSICAL SINGER TO ENTERTAIN AT TUNNEL OF LOVE …
The Tunnel of Love — the walkway between Main Street and Parker Harding Plaza — has some of the best outdoor acoustics in town. (Check out the Staples Orphenians, during the annual “06880” Westport Downtown Association Stroll.)
This Friday (October 23, 11:45 a.m.), Chloe Beth will entertain passersby there, with a special program.
Vocalist Chloë Beth is classically trained. She sings all genres, including opera, jazz, musical theater and pop.
She specializes in classical music. It really wows the crowd.
Especially — as will be the case Friday — when the acoustics are great.
Chloe Beth will sing at the Tunnel of Love, this Friday.
… and moca hosts international piano competition
Speaking of music: MoCA\CT hosts an international event next month.
On November 14, MoCA\CT welcomes 3 outstanding young pianists for the final round of the 54th annual Heida Hermanns International Music Competition.
Selected from an outstanding pool of talent, each finalist performs a 45-minute program, spanning 5 centuries of piano repertoire. Each will also debut a commissioned work by composer Samuel Adams. Click here for tickets, and more information.
Last month, “06880” reported on Alice Ely’s presentation at Wakeman Town Farm.
The monarch butterfly watch conservation specialist helped youngsters release “Petey,” and provided a fascinating peek into the science behind monarch migration.
Before the butterfly took off, Alice attached a tiny radio tag to his back using eyelash adhesive. The transmitter weighs no more than a grain of rice, so it’s light enough for Petey to fly freely.
WTF reports that he’s now made it to Louisiana. He’s on his way to Mexico, where he and millions of other monarchs stay until late winter.
Petey is the first monarch ever released from Connecticut with this type of radio tag.
As temperatures warm and the days get longer, they receive their cue to head north, where they mate and lay eggs on the first milkweed they find — often in Texas.
To follow his journey, download the Project Monarch app, then search for Petey2026. You can track his migration in real time as he flies south.
NOTE: The tiny tags are powered by solar cells, so Petey may occasionally disappear from the radar while his tag recharges.
Petey’s journey south.
SEASONAL FOOD, WARMTH AT LACHAT TOWN FARM
Chef Molly Healey grew up in Westport and Weston. S
Now she’s back home, raising a family. And Molly is eager to give back, in the best way she knows: through food, warmth and gathering.
She’s getting ready to open Hemma Café in Weston Center next year.
Before that, on November 14 (7 p.m.), Weston’s Lachat Town Farm welcomes her for a delicious, seasonal meal.
The Johnson & Wales University graduate will prepare kale and squash salad, fennel orange roasted chicken, roasted eggplant, garlic braised greens, trumpet mushrooms, smashed fried potatoes, fresh buttermilk pancakes and pastries. Spiced cider spritz will be served; guests can bring their own beverages.
Westport resident Pasquale Razzano died peacefully on Wednesday, surrounded by his family. He was 83.
A graduate of Georgetown Law School, Pasquale practiced intellectual property law for over 50 years. He won victories for clients like Rubik’s Cube, Disney, Beatrix Potter and Mars.
He also led bar associations, homeowner groups and country clubs.
Pasquale was a devoted fan of the Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Giants. He was also a traveler, a fisherman, a “cowboy born in the wrong state, and a pirate born 200 years too late.”
He loved being on his boat, watching the sunset, drinking
margaritas or martinis, and listening to Jimmy Buffet and Willie Nelson.
He and his wife Maryann — who he met in high school — visited over 35 countries, on 6 continents.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by his children Elizabeth Razzano (Terry), Pasquale Razzano, Jr., Susan Razzano and Christyann Weltens (Jerrett); grandchildren Rainia Razzano, Michael and Cecilia Weltens, siblings Frank Razzano and Theresa Oliveira, and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
A wake will be held at his home, 21 Covlee Drive, on Thursday (October 22, 4 to 7 p.m. A funeral Mass is set for Church of the Assumption on Friday (October 23, 10 a.m.).
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or Parkinson’s Foundation.
“WESTPORT … NATURALLY” & SONG OF THE DAY
This sly guy posed perfectly in Weston, near green grass and colorful flowers, for today’s “Westport … Naturally” photo feature.
(Photo/Sandy Rothenberg)
And finally … on that note (above):
(From floods and opera singers to juice bars, “06880” keeps you up on all things Westport. If you enjoy learning about our town — or anything else we do — please click here to support us. Thanks!)
In the wake of last month’s flooding, the Small Business Administration will provide low-interest loans for homeowners, renters, businesses and non-profits in Fairfield, New Haven and Litchfield Counties.
The declaration comes in response to a request Governor Lamont submitted to the SBA immediately after assessments conducted by SBA, state, and local officials determined that the damage from the storm exceeds the criteria necessary to qualify.
Specifically, the loans cover:
Homeowners: Up to $500,000 to repair their primary residence.
Homeowners and renters: Up to $100,000 to repair or replace damaged or destroyed personal property.
Business owners: Up to $2 million to replace real property, inventories, machinery, equipment and other physical losses.
Businesses and nonprofits: Loans of up to $2 million to provide working capital until normal operations resume.
Businesses like The Visual Brand that were damaged in the September 13 flood, as well as homeowners and renters, can apply for Small Business Administration loans.
The application deadline for physical damage loans is December 1. The application deadline for economic injury loans is July 2, 2027. To apply:
In-person: A temporary, in-person outreach center will open at the Margaret E. Morton Government Center at 999 Broad Street in Bridgeport beginning tomorrow (October 7).
It will operate Mondays through Fridays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Adjusted hours include 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. October 9, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. October 20 and 21. It will be closed October 12, and close permanently after October 21.
Online: The MySBA Loan Portal at https://lending.sba.gov allows applicants to apply online, view loan details, check balances, make payments and access statements.
The nor’easter washed out Jan Pucci and Lew Pennell’s outdoor wedding, at Sherwood Island State Park.
But the VFW — Westport’s great veterans’ club and multi-purpose community center — happily hosted the couple’s big event Saturday.
It was a very appropriate venue.
Jan is an avid member of the Westport Weston Family YMCA’s popular Aqua Fitness classes — taught by VFW senior vice president Patty Kondub, and Auxiliary president Joan Evon.
And Lew is a Navy veteran.
Making this a true Westport affair: Andrew Colabella — American Legion Post 63 leader, Representative Town Meeting member and a justice of the peace — served as the officiant.
“06880” joins the VFW in wishing clear skies and smooth sailing to the newlyweds.
Newlyweds Lew Pennell and Jan Pucci, with officiant Andrew Colabella.
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Speaking of the nor’easter: Eversource made good progress last night, addressing outages.
At 6 a.m. today, 49 Westport customers remained without power. That’s 0.38% of the town.
Weston reported only 9 outages (0.23%).
Statewide, 2,728 customers still had no electricity. That’s 0.21%.
United Nations Day is October 24. Westport has always hosted an event that day, honoring the founding of that international body.
This year, the date is October 6 (7 p.m.; reception at 6 p.m.). That’s when a high-level diplomat comes to the Westport Library.
The UN Secretary-General’s representative in Washington, William Davis, will speak “The United Nations’ Path Forward in a World in Crisis.” The public is invited to attend and admission is free. Click here to register.
The event is part of the Ruth Steinkraus-Cohen Memorial Lecture Series, sponsored by the United Nations Association of Southwestern CT (unaswct.org) in cooperation with The Westport Library.
Davis represents the UN Secretary-General and Secretariat to US policymakers, civil society, the news media and broader public. He has a deep understanding of the complex relationship between the US and the United Nations system.
Throughout his career, Davis has championed international cooperation and public engagement with the multilateral system, forging trusted relationships across governments, international organizations, academia, civil society and the media.
Ukrainian troops have pushed back about 9 kilometers against Russian invaders.
They’ve taken 200 square kilometers in the last 10 days, in the Donetsk oblast (province).
Of course, the town still needs our help.
To donate to Ukraine Aid International — the boots-on-the-ground non-profit co-founded by Westporters Marshall and Brian Mayer — click here. Click the “I want to support” box; then select “Support for the City of Lyman.” Scroll down on that page for other donation options (mail, wire transfer and Venmo.)
Year after year, more and more parents pick up their elementary school students. Fewer and fewer ride the bus.
The numbers grew especially rapidly after both COVID, and the change to a later school start time.
It’s impossible, many parents say, for youngsters who take the bus to get home in time for their after-school activities.
We don’t know how Susan Garment got home, when she was a Westport kid. But she’s an adult now, and was struck by the daily afternoon scene on Post Road West, near Kings Highway School.
Not far away, this was this scene on Sylvan Road North, at Pierrepont School.
(Photos/Susan Garment)
Of course, every parent has to drive their kid there and back (or carpool).
The private school does not offer bus service.
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We’ve posted plenty of storm shots recently.
Ginormous waves, impassable roads, flooded yards — you name it, we saw it.
Here’s one more image from the weekend, as our “Westport … Naturally” featured photo.
You can’t really tell there’s a nor’easter.
But nature’s creatures gonna do what they do best: figure stuff out.
(Photo/Richard Fogel)
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And finally … well, it wasn’t Sherwood Island.
It wasn’t a chapel either.
But Jan Lucci and Lew Pennell pulled off a great wedding on Saturday, despite plenty of, um, headwinds.
Congrats!
(And finally … as we start a new week, with hopefully a lot less weather to report, we’d like to remind you: We’ve been working like dogs to cover this stuff. Please click here to support us. Thank you!)
Click here to help support “06880” via credit card or PayPal. Any amount is welcome, appreciated — and tax-deductible! Reader contributions keep this blog going. (Alternate methods: Please send a check to “06880”: PO Box 744, Westport, CT 06881. Or use Venmo: @blog06880. Or Zelle: danwoog@gmail.com. Thanks!)
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