Westport Lifestyle: Read All About It!

Posted on May 20, 2018 | 17 comments

Yesterday, I landed in nearly 10,000 Westport mailboxes.

Well, not “I,” exactly.

Westport Lifestyle — a new magazine — did.

But there I was, on pages 28 and 29.

With not only a great writeup, but a very cool photo by John Videler.

So, since Westport Lifestyle publisher Marisa MacLean was nice enough to profile me for her debut issue, the least I can do is the same for her, here.

Marisa MacLean

Marisa has a long career in advertising, media and sales. She thinks big: One of her projects was selling billboards in Times Square.

After taking a break from the corporate world for a few years to start a family — and moving to Westport — Marisa was eager to get back into media. Westport Lifestyle — part of national, Kansas City-based Lifestyle Publications — was the perfect vehicle.

Marisa spends her free time exploring Westport, and spending time with her husband, 2 kids, and Yorkie/Maltese mix, Max.

Her new magazine focuses on new restaurants, local businesses, charities and happenings in the 06880. Her goal is for readers to discover new things, while recognizing familiar people and places.

She’s on the lookout for interesting stories, and partners to feature. Email her: marisa.maclean@lifestylepubs.com.

Tell her the guy on pages 28 and 29 sent you.

(Click here for Westport Lifestyle’s online version.)

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Posted in Categories

Strange Object Spotted In Sky

Posted on May 20, 2018 | 4 comments

Westporters were stunned a few minutes ago, when they looked up and saw this:

Apparently, it is something called “the sun.”

Not to worry. A few minutes later, the sky was back to normal.

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Posted in Totally random, Weather

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Photo Challenge #177

Posted on May 20, 2018 | 29 comments

There are 2 types of Westporters: Those who love Sherwood Island, and those who have never been.

Those in the 1st group include Arthur Schoeller, Michele Carey-Moody, Vanessa Bradford, Chris Buckley, Fred Cantor, Lawrence Zlatkin, Mary Ann Batsell, Hope Hageman, Michael Brennecke, Linda Amos, Erik Østbye and Peter Ritchey. They had no trouble identifying last week’s photo challenge as the Nature Center, a crown jewels in our very own state park. (Click here for Brant Mozingo’s photo, and all guesses.)

If you’re in the 2nd group: too bad. You’re missing out on 232 beautiful acres. The beach is great; there’s tons of trails, plenty of nature, and lots to do.

Plus, it’s free for Connecticut residents! (Funds come from a $10 fee when you register your motor vehicle.)

So you have 2 choices:

  1. Drop whatever you’re doing, and go explore Sherwood Island
  2. Try to guess this week’s photo challenge. If you think you know where in Westport you’d see this, click “Comments” below.

(Photo/Dan Woog)

 

29 Comments

Posted in Beach, Environment, Photo Challenge

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Friday Flashback Follow-Up: Where The Hill Is It?

Posted on May 20, 2018 | 13 comments

When I first saw last Friday’s flashback — a shot of an almost-empty Westport road, circa 1930 — I was pretty sure it was taken on State Street (now the Post Road), looking east past what is now Compo Shopping Center, toward where the Humane Society sits today.

But I wasn’t positive. So I asked readers what they thought.

Over 60 comments poured in. Many agreed with my guess. But others ranged up and down the Post Road, and across town to places like Nyala Farm.

Someone even thought I was right, but looking in the wrong direction (the old IHOP would be on the left, with the fire station and then — yes — the Humane Society on the right).

Alert “06880” reader Tom Ryan took out his camera. He offers these 3 images, and some thoughts.

This (above) was his original guess — the same as mine. However, he says, “you can’t see the road bend left (at the top) in the current photo. I think that rules it out.”

Picky, picky.

Here’s his second shot:

It shows Post Road West looking east, with Kings Highway Elementary School just out of the frame on the right.

Tom writes: “This one looks good as well. But notice the angle of the right side of the road. Seems dead straight in the original photo but more angled in today’s photo.”

Finally — looking east on Post Road West, just past Whole Foods — there’s this:

Tom says:

“I think this is a match, mostly because of the angle of the right side of the road in both past and current photos. You can also see the curve left in the distance, and the slope of the road seems to be the same.

“Lastly, the stone wall on the left is still there, and about the same distance from the road as in the original photo (although you can’t see it here because of the trees).”

The mystery continues. There’s only one thing we know for sure.

There was a lot less traffic back in 1930.

13 Comments

Posted in Friday Flashback, Places

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Today, Westport’s Real Estate Market Changed. Forever.

Posted on May 20, 2018 | 26 comments

It’s a typical Westport real estate listing:

“5 beds, 4.5 baths in 4200 sq ft on a quiet cul de sac street close to train, shopping, restaurants in a town that offers a progressive lifestyle.”

5 Ridgewood Lane is off North Kings Highway, between Wilton Road and Old Hill.

But the rest of the write-up for the 5 Ridgewood Lane home is unlike anything you’ve ever read:

Currently accepting CRYPTOCURRENCY. Climb into your very own Crypto Cryb in NYC’s backyard and diversify your portfolio. Blockchain Homes presents its first residential property to be offered for purchase in cryptocurrency. Bring your Bit Coin or Etherum to the one and only Westport, Connecticut modern farmhouse designed and inspired by the crypto climate of a cutting edge lifestyle…. Be the first to make a Blockchain Home purchase.

So how much does it cost?

“250BTC or 3,030ETH.”

That sound you just heard is thousands of local realtors going, “Oh. My. God.”

(Click here for the full New York Times listing. Hat tip: Peter Blau)

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Posted in Economy, Real estate

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Pic Of The Day #397

Posted on May 19, 2018 | 1 comment

New Compo Beach pavilion roof (Photo/Amy Schneider)

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Posted in Beach, Pic of the Day

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Staples’ 12 Angry Men (And Women)

Posted on May 19, 2018 | 1 comment

Nine years ago, Staples Players produced “Twelve Angry Men.” The classic courtroom drama was staged in the Black Box Theater — in the round.

The audience surrounded the set, on all 4 sides. I saw it 3 times — always in a different spot. Each vantage point was unique. I saw 3 versions of the same play.

This week, Players again produce “Twelve Angry Men.” Once again it’s in the round.

“With racial profiling and challenges to justice ever present in the news today, this felt like the right time to bring back the show,” Roth says.

“It feels like the actors are in a fishbowl — being watched and judged by society. That’s what we want.”

“Twelve Angry men” explores the dynamics between 12 jurors, from different backgrounds, as they meet on a hot summer day to decide one man’s fate. Though the play was first performed live on CBS in 1954, the preconceptions and assumptions of the characters are quite relevant today.

Tempers flare as jurors deliberate in “Twelve Angry Men.” From left: Tucker Ewing, Nick Rossi, Sam Gusick, Chad Celini, Jack Watzman and Kristin Amato. (Photo/Kerry Long)

Kristin Amato — Juror #8 — says, “The show really makes you think. It is all about the questioning of morals and personal prejudices. I think many audience members will go home reflecting on their own actions, and how they may have acted if they were in the same circumstances as the jurors in the show.”

She adds, “As much as I love the main stage, there’s something special about the intimacy of the Black Box. I love the interaction with the audience. Because we’re so close, when anyone claps or laughs or even gasps, we as actors can really play off of it. The energy just builds.”

For several seniors, “Twelve Angry Men” — which Roth and Long have cast to include female jurors — will be the final Players show before college.

Sophia Sherman — who will study acting at the University of Michigan — plays a Russian immigrant. Her passion for democracy, and strong statements about immigration, race and class difference, are “eye-opening,” Sherman says.

My eyes were opened — in 3 different ways — 9 years ago. I look forward to seeing the same show, in yet another way, soon.

(“Twelve Angry Men” will be performed this Thursday, Friday and Saturday, May 24, 25 and 26, at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, May 27 at 3 p.m., in the Staples High School Black Box Theatre. Click here for tickets. A few tickets may be available in the Black Box Theatre lobby 30 minutes prior to performances.)

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Posted in Arts, Entertainment, People, Staples HS, Teenagers

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Dwain Schenck’s PR: From Barbara Bush To Guy Smith

Posted on May 19, 2018 | Comments Off on Dwain Schenck’s PR: From Barbara Bush To Guy Smith

Dwain Schenck first met Guy Smith at a refugee camp in the Middle East.

It was the first Gulf War, right before Kuwait was liberated by allied ground forces.

Dwain Schenck

Schenck was communications director for Americares. He lived in Jordan, helping coordinate medical relief airlifts from the US. Working together, the two men became fast — and lifelong — friends.

Schenck has had an intriguing career. He was the first Western TV reporter in Armenia after a devastating earthquake. He worked in disaster areas and war zones around the world, including Iran, North Korea, Nicaragua, Egypt, Somalia, Sudan, Rwanda and Bosnia.

In 1993 he traveled with former first lady Barbara Bush to the war-torn Croatian port of Split, on a humanitarian mission, delivering medical relief supplies to hospitals. He wrote several speeches for her.

Bush was “inquisitive and very compassionate,” Schenck recalls. “She was also tough and a real trouper, braving cold and difficult conditions at clinics and refugee camps. She was a class act, with a down-to-earth style all her own. She looked like America’s grandmother, but she was young at heart and full of energy.”

Dwain Schenck and Barbara Bush share a moment.

Schenck, his wife and 3 children moved to Westport in 2003. It’s a town he’d always loved, from his early days with Stamford-based Americares.

Today he owns Schenck Strategies, a boutique PR and strategic communications firm.

Last December, Smith called. He’s running for governor of Connecticut. Schenck signed on as communications director.

Smith is a Democrat from Greenwich. After Americares he joined Diageo as a senior executive. He was a special adviser to Bill Clinton during the president’s impeachment proceedings.

But, Schenck says, Smith is “not a career politician or a career candidate.”

Guy Smith

Schenck calls him “the right man for the job, at this point in our state’s history.” His communications director says Smith brings people together, and can “break through the divisiveness that keeps government from working for the people of this state.”

Westport is not exactly ground zero in the gubernatorial race. We do, however, have 2 candidates: Republican Steve Obsitnik and unaffiliated Marisa Manly.

Now another neighbor is helping a Democratic candidate.

There are about 25 candidates in the ever-changing list of hopefuls to succeed Governor Dannel Malloy. May the best man or woman win.

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Posted in Local business, Media, People, Politics

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Pic Of The Day #396

Posted on May 18, 2018 | 6 comments

Schlaet’s Point, on Hillspoint Road (Photo/Nicola Sharian)

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Posted in Beach, Pic of the Day

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Entitled Drivers Tackle New Targets

Posted on May 18, 2018 | 12 comments

Take heart, handicapped people: You’re not alone!

For years, very entitled drivers have taken your parking spots.

Now there’s a competitor: spaces reserved for electric vehicles.

Never mind that you need these spots to charge your cars.

And forget that one reason for putting charging stations in accessible locations is to encourage more people to buy EVs.

There’s no excuse for this entitled parking.

And the driver definitely can’t say he couldn’t read the sign.

After all: This is the library.

(PS: The train station usually has fewer charging spots than vehicles wanting to charge. And often 2 or 3 of the 8 spots are taken by electric cars that are not plugged in — they probably have a full charge already. Just owning an EV doesn’t mean you can take those spaces!)

12 Comments

Posted in Environment, Library

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