This morning’s post –showing garbage where the dumpster once sat in Parker Harding Plaza, just a few yards away from the finally-working compactor — drew plenty of comments from readers.
And this email from Scott Martin:
I own the Rye Ridge Deli. Someone sent me the pic of the garbage by the compactors.
That is a mix of garbage from various tenants there. A couple of those boxes are ours: the bacon, avocados and Rockland bakery.
I just spoke to a number of my employees who take garbage out at night and during the day. Last night, the compactors were completely filled and overflowing. Everything was stuffed in them to the top. They would not compact any more.
The mess this morning. The dumpster — across from the compactors — is no longer there.
Maybe they were a day late picking up due to the holiday. We are not sure. But when they come to remove the compactors it seems they cannot drive away with them overflowing so they knock it out, and when they return from the dump or wherever they take the trash they fill it back with what was knocked out.
There have been many occasions since the compactors have been installed with them not functioning at all. I guess the kinks are being worked out back there.
Going forward my guys have been instructed to let myself or a manager know when there is this sort of mess back there. Rather then leaving it for someone else to find, we can call City Carting to address it or figure out a better way rather than leaving that mess.
Those compactors are great, better than regular dumpsters, as long as they work (which is not always the case). I have been dealing with them for years in my other locations.
I just got off the phone with Scott. He apologizes for his guys leaving a mess. Nice to know he contacted “06880” to take responsibility.
As he notes though, only a small portion of the garbage is his. The hunt continues.
Good news! The trash compactor in Parker Harding Plaza is up and running.
Bad news! Although the old garbage dumpsters were removed last night, some lazy, entitled dipshit deposited heaps of garbage in the exact spot where they used to be.
Yes, that’s the compactor there in the background.
But great news! When some poor volunteer from the Westport Downtown Merchants Association — or a good-hearted citizen — moves the trash a few yards away to where it should be, all they have to do is rummage through to find out which store or restaurant thinks this is a cool thing to do.
Then email dwoog@optonline.net. We’re happy to let our 10,000 readers know whose garbage this is.
More than a century after the first painters moved here, Westport remains an artists’ community.
Famous Artists’ School is long gone. But we have a thriving Arts Center, a rapidly growing Artists Collective, and the spectacular Westport Public Art Collection.
Frederic Chiu and Jeanine Esposito sponsor frequent Beechwood Arts Salons. Galleries dot the Post Road and Riverside Avenue. We have a townwide arts curator!
Many Westporters work in related fields. They’re artists’ agents, attorneys and PR professionals.
And don’t forget James Chantler Brown. He co-founded Art of Everyone.
If you’ve ever attended a corporate team-building event, the Lollapalooza music festival or NBC’s “The Voice” press junket, you may have seen Brown’s project in action. You may even have participated yourself.
If you haven’t, here’s what you’ve missed.
Art of Everyone is an audience participation experience. You don’t have to be Picasso. In fact, your most recent creation might date back to 3rd grade art class.
Art of Everyone is actually Art “for” Everyone.
You just pick up a paint stick. You face a large canvas. Then you follow the lead of an “artist conductor.”
He or she stands behind the canvas. Using a laser pointer (and strong communication skills), the conductor shows where to paint. You follow the lead. Suddenly — and with great fun — you, your co-workers, friends or perfect strangers have created a work of art.
An artist conductor with a laser pointer (left) leads a budding artist.
Art of Everyone is customizable. It scales from small, intimate private gatherings to large meetings, with multiple canvases. “Artist conductors” specialize in various forms of art, including portrait, abstract, landscape and still life.
It’s fun. It’s entertaining. And it’s all thanks to Brad Noble, the mastermind behind the ideas of guiding with a laser over the shoulder, and the technique of pushing paint through the canvas from one side to the other. He and Brown combined the ideas, and created laser guided painting.
Ta-da! A finished work.
Brown’s been a Westporter since 2005. The Portland, Maine native’s mother was an artist. At 13 he was captivated by magic. He taught himself himself tricks. He became a comic magician, eventually headlining comedy clubs, lecturing at industry events and visiting 38 countries as a cruise ship attraction.
He consulted for “Arrested Development,” and for Steve Martin’s The Great Flydini.
Brown applied his talents to live events. He also developed multi-million dollar advertising platforms for AOL, Huffington Post, YouTube, Google, Universal Studios and Paramount Pictures.
James Chantler Brown
His wife works for NBC. When she was transferred from Los Angeles to New York, the family — which by then included 2 girls — looked all over the tri-state region. They settled on Westport, in large part for the schools.
Brown never regretted the choice. “It’s amazing. We love it,” he says of the town. “It’s great for families. I love being on the water. I like the seasons.”
One daughter is now a tennis player at Union College. The other is a junior at Staples High.
Along the way, he and branding colleague Shawn Olsen batted around a couple of ideas for a business. One was teaching people how to draw by using a laser pointed over their shoulder. The other involved artists standing behind a canvas, and bleeding their paintings through from behind.
Eventually they combined the two concepts into what became Art of Everyone. They formed an LLC, and marketed it to event planners. In 2017 it took off.
Inexperienced artists have discovered Art of Everyone’s magic at conventions, the World Business Forum at Lincoln Center, private parties — any place a client wants to give attendees, customers or friends a unique experience. (For “The Voice,” judges judged their own portraits.)
“Some people are hesitant,” Brown notes. “But most of them like to try. And when they step back from the canvas, they love seeing what they’ve created. They also say it’s an escape from whatever else is going on around them. It’s almost therapeutic.”
Think back to that 3rd grade art project. It was fun, right?
“Every child is an artist,” Brown says. “We help grown-ups remain artists.”
When friends and relatives face crisis, tragedy and heartbreak, many of us offer help.
“If you need anything, just call,” we say. “We’re here for you.”
We mean it. But it’s not enough.
Alan and Lisa Doran lived through a nightmare last summer. Their daughter Rachel — a rising senior at Cornell University, National Merit Commended Scholar at Staples High School, talented Players costume designer, and founder of her own pajama company — developed a rare reaction to common medications.
She suffered severe burns to 95% of her body. She then developed another life-threatening syndrome. On August 17 — after 35 harrowing days — Rachel died.
Rachel Doran, after her Staples High School graduation.
Her parents made it through that awful time thanks to wonderful doctors, caring hospital staffs, and many supportive friends.
And those friends helped by not simply saying, “just call.” On their own, they figured out what Alan, Lisa and their younger daughter Ellie needed. Then — without burdening the family — they acted swiftly, decisively and efficiently to make it happen.
When Rachel was in Columbia Presbyterian Hospital, for example, a woman found a boutique hotel 2 blocks away.
She booked it. Lisa never wanted to leave Rachel’s bedside. But with a place to sleep — and shower — she was able to take care of herself, as well as her daughter.
Another friend showed up every morning with healthy muffins and a protein shake.
“People caring for loved ones eat junk — if they eat at all,” Lisa says. “Having that food, every day, was so important. I could never have done that on my own.”
Countless gestures like that sustained the Dorans during the most horrific time of their lives.
Rachel Doran (right) and her sister Ellie.
But how many people have friends with the resources to book a hotel room, or bring fresh food to the hospital every day?
Alan says his family’s experience at Bridgeport Hospital and Columbia Presbyterian opened their eyes to the reality that during a critical illness, most people are on their own.
The New York facility, for example, draws patients from all over the world. Families — if they can get there — have no support network nearby. Countless other obstacles — finances, language, you name it — conspire to make a medical emergency even more daunting than it already is.
Alan and Lisa know how fortunate they are. They could take time off work to devote all their time and energy to Rachel. They had “incredible care” at 2 hospitals. And they had the communication skills to talk clearly and often with those superb doctors and nurses.
They realize — despite the tragic ending — how lucky they were, in those respects.
Rachel and her boyfriend Rob traveled to Cuba during spring break. This is his favorite photo of her.
After Rachel died, the Dorans were devastated. But they wanted to find some sense in a senseless situation.
So — keeping their daughter’s spirit, beauty, kindness, style and wit alive — they’ve created Rach’s Hope.
The mission is to help others weather the storm of critical illness. “We want people to have a team like we and Rachel had,” Lisa says.
The foundation’s name has special meaning. “Hope” was Rachel’s middle name. The Dorans always had hope that she would recover. Her boyfriend said hope got him through every day. Today, the word “Hope” is tattooed — in her handwriting — across his chest.
And, Alan says, “we know Rachel would hope that no family goes through what we did. But if they do, she’d hope they’d have the resources that we did.”
Rachel’s Hope will make a concrete difference. For example, it will partner with hotels, and negotiate VRBO home rental rates.
It will also provide for items like housing, transportation to and from the hospital and outpatient appointments, access to mental health professionals, therapies not covered by insurance, meals (including gift cards to Uber Eats and Seamless), childcare and respite care during and after ICU stays, advocates to assist with hospital bills and health insurance communication, therapy dog visits, and funding for wellness expenses.
The Dorans are taking all that they’ve learned, and paying it forward — figuratively and literally — to other families.
A kickoff fundraiser is set for Saturday, March 2 (7:30 p.m., Penfield Pavilion, Fairfield). The date has special meaning: It’s the day after what would have been Rachel’s 22nd birthday.
“Rachel always told me that instead of a wedding, she’d have a big party at the beach,” Lisa says. “She wanted Bodega Bites catering, and Tito’s vodka bar. They’ll be there, and it’s on the water. We’re having the wedding she hoped to have.”
Her family and friends will share stories. But you don’t have to know and love Rachel to attend. Everyone is welcome. There’s live music, and huge live and silent auctions.
As for the dress code: When Rachel was 11, she started Rachel’s Rags. The company made intricate cotton and fleece pajamas. She sold them at stores and craft fairs, and on Etsy.
Rachel loved “pajama chic.” So attendees should wear pajama bottoms, and a chic top.
There’s one more thing: The day before the fundraiser — on March 1, Rachel’s birthday — Rach’s Hope is starting a “Cozy Across Campus” social media campaign. The idea is for students everywhere to go to class in pajama bottoms.
The attire will draw attention to the importance of comforting people in need — and offering hope.
Rach’s hope.
(Click here for more information and tickets to Rach’s Hope March 2 fundraiser. Can’t go? No problem — click here to sign in or register to bid online for the silent auction. And click here to donate any amount.)
You don’t get more “Westport” than last week’s Photo Challenge.
Michael Tomashefsky’s image showed rocks, a jetty and water. It’s a scene we see all over town — from Frost Point on Beachside Avenue and nearby Burying Hill Beach, to Sherwood Island, Schlaet’s Point and Compo.
Those were some of the guesses. Others ranged further afield: Cockenoe, and Canfield/Sprite Island. John McCarthy was somewhat correct, but not quite precise enough, when he suggested “somewhere near the water.”
The first winner was Diane Silfen. She knew that this photo was taken at the end of Canal Road, off Saugatuck Shores. That’s a part of Westport that many residents may not be familiar with.
But — like so many other spots in town — it offers stunning, and ever-changing, water views. (Click here for the photo, and all the guesses.)
Caitlin Engle checked in later, calling it one of Westport’s “hidden gems.”
There’s a bit of water in this week’s Photo Challenge too. If you know where in Westport you’d find this, click “Comments” below.
He’s chaired Westport’s Board of Finance, and served as 2nd selectman. He and his wife Liz are active members of Chabad of Westport, and lead philanthropic efforts in this town and Israel.
Now, Avi Kaner is a poster boy — and cover subject — in a battle against expansion of a New York law.
When Crain’s New York Business ran a long story on Governor Andrew Cuomo’s proposal to expand the state’s nickel-deposit law to include plastic and glass bottles containing juice, coffee and tea concoctions, plus sports and energy drinks, they illustrated it in print and online with a photo of a less-than-pleased Kaner — holding plastic bottles.
(Photo/Buck Ennis for Crain’s New York Business)
This issue has nothing to do with the Westporter’s civic work. His day job is co-owner of Morton Williams. That’s the family-owned chain of supermarkets, primarily in Manhattan, focused on fresh, organic, specialty and international foods.
Crain’s says Kaner “isn’t relishing the thought of folks bringing in a lot more bottles and cans” to his West 57th Street location. Morton Williams recently spent $10 million, turning the ground floor and lower level into retail space.
“We keep this place nice and clean, in fitting with the neighborhood,” Kaner told Crain’s. “The last thing we need is people bringing more of their garbage here.”
Customers can return up to 240 items a day. They are first stored near a street-facing window, then in the basement.
“It’s not an optimal use of space in a store where rent is $200 per square foot and every inch of shelving counts,” Crain’s says. Workers who sort the returnables earn $15 an hour.
Kaner is not anti-environment.
“Anything that can be done to prevent waste and help the planet is a good thing,” he told Crain’s. “But the economics of recycling don’t work for a business like ours.”
To read the full story — including its possible impact on curbside recycling — click here.
This morning, “06880” reader Robert Harrington criticized 1st selectman Jim Marpe and other town leaders for their actions during the Aquarion/North Avenue water tower debate. The 1st selectman responds:
Thank you for the opportunity to address Mr. Harrington’s concerns and accusations. I will try to clarify certain facts and misstatements, as well as explain how my staff and I have willingly assisted a group of residents who abut Aquarion’s property on North Avenue. I have remained sympathetic with their concerns regarding quality of life and property values, and have sought to mitigate the impacts that this vital infrastructure project may have on them.
The town attorney, operations director, director of public works, fire chief, fire marshal, tree warden, other staff, volunteers and I have devoted hundreds of hours over the past year and a half researching and mediating toward a solution that would help the neighbors, and at the same time address the water supply needs of the entire community. I personally have taken the following actions:
led public and work group meetings;
facilitated communications between Aquarion and the neighbors;
advocated for a peer review paid for by Aquarion;
dedicated my staff’s time;
enlisted experienced resident volunteers to assist with mediation;
remained non-partisan and neutral with the goal of compromise; and
wrote several letters to PURA on behalf of the residents.
These are tangible services that I believe speak volumes over appearing at a single public regulatory hearing to make a statement. I appreciate the state legislators’ ongoing efforts to help, but my office and several dedicated town employees have been consistently involved in trying to reach an acceptable solution. The positions that I have taken are not just advocacy. They also reflect a careful weighting of all the options and their outcomes, as well as the benefits to the greater good of all Westporters.
The town stayed involved in this process and conveyed to Aquarion the importance of:
finding a way to lower the height by eliminating the dome;
increasing the landscaping;
managing the traffic and disruption; and
expediting the water main upgrade.
Had we not stayed involved, Aquarion would never have agreed to the most recent settlement offer. They also would never have agreed to the peer review. It is clear that my pressure on Aquarion led to the agreement on several concessions.
In advance of the public hearings in New Britain, I submitted a detailed letter to PURA with very specific requests. Furthermore, while I remained in Westport to address other town-related issues, at my behest and with my full confidence the town Attorney and operations director attended the hearings held in November and January. PURA requested that the fire marshal and public works director testify. That totals 4 senior town representatives involved with 2 hearings in New Britain.
Public works director Mr. Ratkiewich is a dedicated 29-year town employee who has no affiliation with Aquarion. He was requested by PURA to testify under oath and responded to specific questions on a factual basis. This testimony, along with that of our fire marshal and Mr. Harrington, are all available for the public to review. I am confident that upon review of the public proceedings, no one would describe Mr. Ratkiewich’s tone and commentary as anything but professional and forthright. I will not accept attacks on, and I will always defend, our town staff when they are inappropriately accused.
It is easy to say that a tank should go “here” or “there” as an alternative, but Mr. Harrington fails to mention the related costs and potential disruption to our town. Also, he doesn’t point out that his proposed alternate sites include the entrance to the Bedford Middle School property and a location in another residential zone. If PURA believes that these locations or other alternatives should be pursued, then I’ll direct the efforts of our town staff accordingly.
We know that the water main upgrades in Westport have been on Aquarion’s capital plan. Aquarion offered to accelerate them in order to come to a compromise. The town remains skeptical that Aquarion has the ability to complete the work within the accelerated timeframe, which is why the tank construction is vital to our water supply infrastructure.
We have gone above and beyond to assist. I am proud of the compromises the neighbors and the town have accomplished during negotiations with Aquarion. In fact, the final settlement agreement was close to acceptance by both parties until the fire marshal would not agree to further lower the height of the tanks because of the impact on fire flow. Since I trust his expertise and experience, I removed the additional lower height provision from my request to PURA. I agreed that the town should not reduce the fire flow improvements that we are receiving from this project. At that point, several residents split apart because many were ready to settle. Mr. Harrington now represents a smaller fraction of the impacted homes.
Last fall, PURA members — and a few protesters — toured the Aquarion North Avenue water tower site.
Despite all the time, energy, costs and effort that my staff and I have dedicated in the mediation process, the neighbors were not able to reach a settlement with Aquarion. That is why PURA, the regulatory authority tasked with oversight of Aquarion, has become the forum to address the issues. The proposal to allow Aquarion to build one tank while a second site location is found is best left for PURA to decide.
In conclusion, I stand by the efforts of the town as well as my leadership. Other local challenges also require my time and attention, including the rehabilitation of Coleytown Middle School and finalizing the town’s operating budget. Nevertheless, the North Avenue water tanks remain an important issue for the town. As such, our staff and I will continue to be involved as appropriate, and if we believe it can bring us to a settlement that all parties can accept.
Again, thank you for the opportunity to state the facts and provide my support of the town’s dedicated employees.
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: dwoog@optonline.net. Thanks!)
GET THE “06880” APP
The “06880” app (search for it on the Apple or Android store) is the easiest way to get “06880.” Choose notifications: whenever a new post is published, or once or twice a day. Click here for details.
