… is that Michael Douglas is making a movie about Westport.
An unconfirmed source says that the famed actor/producer’s new project looks back on his teenage days here. It will focus on his beloved Downshifters — the club that met at the Y to talk about, learn about, work on (and sometimes race) cars.
American Graffiti: Eat your heart out.
In 2013 — while filming “And So It Goes” in Bridgeport — Michael Douglas drove Westporter Bill Scheffler’s Mercedes.
Posted in Entertainment, Looking back, Organizations, People, Transportation
Tagged Bill Scheffler, Downshifters, Michael Douglas
After several years, countless meetings and surveys, and endless anticipation, the 1st draft of Westport’s Downtown Master Plan has been made public.
A full house of interested observers was on hand yesterday when the Downtown Steering Committee got a look at the 159-page document.
Now the fun begins.
Larry Untermeyer’s spectacular aerial photo in the opening pages of the planning report highlights the inherent charm — and problems — of downtown.
The consultant — Norwalk-based RBA Group — has provided 44 recommendations and strategies. They range from big-picture creative ideas to practical smaller improvements.
Here — drum roll, please — they are:
Near-term
Traffic often backs up on Wilton Road, near the Post Road intersection. Development of the west side of the river is an important element of the Downtown Master Plan.
Short-term
Modifications to Elm Street are shown in this rendering. The old Westport Pizzeria is on the right; Vineyard Vines is hidden behind trees at center.
An illustration of the possible reinvention of Jesup Green shows a pier, and relocation of parking. The library is at right.
Long-term
Reimagined Parker Harding Plaza shows more green along the riverfront.
Each idea is explored in greater depth. Of course, a section of the report is devoted to financing.
It’s fascinating — and important — reading. If you’ve got a few hours, the report can be downloaded here.
The next stage begins now. The committee will present the report to the Planning and Zoning Commission on Thursday, January 15.
The public gets a crack on Wednesday, January 28, with an open house in the Town Hall auditorium (4:30-9 p.m.), and 2 separate report presentations (5:30 and 7:30 p.m.).
Nothing is chiseled in stone, as 1st Selectman Jim Marpe points out. However, it looks like 2015 will be a year in which downtown might really start to rock.
(For more information, click on www.downtownwestportct.com)
Downtown Westport offers many opportunities for growth and rebirth. (All photos and renderings courtesy of the Downtown Master Plan report)
A couple of years ago I called the Masonic Temple on the Post Road “the spookiest spot in Westport.” In the Comments section, Tony Giunta invited me to come see how un-scary it was.
Recently, the 1964 Staples grad — and current Worshipful Master — repeated the invitation.
The other day, I took him up on his offer. Despite occupying the top 2 floors of a building that also houses a funeral parlor, the building on the corner of the Post Road and Imperial Avenue is not particularly spooky.
Westport’s Temple Lodge #65.
A bit dated, perhaps. But also — as Tony notes — one of “the best-kept secrets in Westport.”
Our Temple Lodge #65 has been around since 1824 — more than a decade before Westport itself was incorporated. After convening at various spots (including National Hall), the local chapter of the centuries-old international organization moved into the then-new building in 1911.
The Masons have been there — meeting the 2nd and 4th Thursday of every month — ever since.
There are now about 100 Masons, though a typical meeting draws 40 or so. The lodge includes a parlor, dining room, kitchen, library, foosball room and large meeting room.
The Masons’ meeting room.
The meeting room includes a clock from Jason Robards’ estate, and an altar. “We’re not a religious organization. But to join you must have a belief in a Supreme Being,” Tony explained.
“We don’t discuss religion or politics in meetings,” he added. “That causes too much discord.”
Meetings are governed by rituals, but include committee reports, information on the welfare of brothers, and discussions of charitable works.
Tony joined in 2007, after retiring from the Westport Police Department. He’d been a Kiwanis Club member and worked with the Y, but had always wanted to be a Mason.
Tony Giunta, in the meeting room.
He proudly showed me a list of previous Masters. Well-known Westport names like George Constantikes, Don Goss, Tom Hofstetter, George Underhill, Carl Cirino and Rocco Frank are inscribed in careful calligraphy.
In earlier times, the list included Westporters from famed families like the Fables, Wakemans, Sniffens, Bradleys and Krauses.
As Tony conducted his tour, I realized that the Masonic Lodge is not a scary building. Instead, it’s simple — and historic.
Plus, it’s got a killer view of the Memorial Day parade. Every May, the Masons gather there.
When it’s over, the bagpipers come upstairs. And then the real party begins.
The downtown view, from Temple Lodge #65.
Posted in Downtown, Local business, Looking back, Organizations, People
Tagged Harding Funeral Home, Temple Lodge #65, Tony Giunta, Westport Masonic Hall
Betsy P. Kahn finds beauty everywhere in Westport. She sees it in places all of us love.
And in spots most of us overlook.
Yesterday, the talented photographer took this fantastic shot of a cottage on Sherwood Mill Pond, near the bridge heading to Compo Cove.
For years it’s enchanted everyone who knows that secret path. But it won’t be there much longer. Damaged in Hurricane Sandy, it and an even smaller cottage next door will soon be demolished.
The train station isn’t going anywhere. No one thinks it’s particularly attractive, but Betsy makes it look stunning too.
(For an even better view, click on each image to enlarge.)
Posted in Arts, Beach, People, Saugatuck
Tagged Betsy P. Kahn, Sherwood Mill Pond, Westport train station
As Westporters in 2 corners of town — Post Road East near the Southport border, and Saugatuck by I-95 Exit 17 — battle high-density housing, a 3rd neighborhood is also girding for a fight.
Since early 2003, Cranbury Road residents have worked to protect the former Lucille Lortel White Barn Theater property, on the Westport/Norwalk border. Nearby neighborhoods include Newtown Turnpike, and Partrick and Stonybrook Roads.
The White Barn Theatre.
According to RTM member Matthew Mandell, then-Governor Jodi Rell secured 5+ acres of open space of the 15-acre property. The rest was to be taken over by the Connecticut Friends School. They would restore the historic theater and build a low-impact green school, instead of 18 houses that had been proposed.
Recently, the school decided not to go forward with its plans. The property now reverts to the Fieber Group — a New Canaan developer — which has applied for a special permit to build at least 21 homes on 7 acres. The theater would be demolished.
A new group called Save Cranbury – Again says that the proposed “conservation development” will include filling in wetlands elsewhere on the property. This may damage “the very drinking water and wildlife resources the easement was meant to protect.”
The original low-impact plan for the “green school” (pink building near center).
Mandell says that the Fieber Group is using “a specific Norwalk zone where the houses are clustered and the number is determined by the amount of acreage. They are including the open space land in their calculations.”
Mandell adds: “This developer was paid by the state, by you and me, for the land to keep as open with public access. Now they are trying to double dip — on top of destroying 3000+ square feet of wetlands and building houses in the wetland setback.” He calls it “a very unsavory plan.”
Mandell says that Norwalk zoning regulations are not as tight as Westport’s — and the city moves quickly. The first planning meeting is Thursday night at Norwalk City Hall (no public comment allowed).
Mandell’s bottom line: “Over-development and its impacts do not observe town lines.”
Like whack-a-moles, social media concerns pop up all over the school landscape. Middle school teachers and administrators often deal with cyber-bullying. Last spring, the anonymous app Yik Yak caused an uproar at Staples.
Recently, after a cyber-bullying incident via Instagram, an elementary school principal sent a letter to parents, then followed up with visits to each classroom. A parent at the school then sent this letter to “06880,” hoping to share it with a wide audience. Here it is:
Though Instagram requires children to be at least 13 years old, our children sign up, posting pictures and remarks which could lead to permanent consequences. A 10-year-old most likely does not understand the importance of reputation management. One inappropriate post can cause them a lifetime of unfortunate consequences, not to mention hurting other innocent people.
Instagram is not the only concern. Other social media vehicles (Facebook, Yik Yak, Twitter, Vine, to name a few) pose the same threat when misused.
Instagram is a popular social media platform for teenagers — and younger children.
As parents we are in a tough spot, balancing granting our children the internet access their peers seem to have through mobile devices and computers with keeping them safe (not only from online predators but tarnishing their own reputations for unthoughtful behavior). Now the schools are asking our help in keeping our children’s cyber-activity responsible.
We can put on parental controls, talk to them about internet safety practices, even have them sign contracts. However, I think we need to take more responsibility to closely monitor their activity and be in the know of where our children really are online.
Giving our kids devices with internet access without supervising is no different than allowing them to throw a party, advising them not to drink and then voluntarily leaving the house. We need to choose to either prevent their access to devices that access the Internet (highly unlikely — most kids in our community have handheld devices by 11 or 12 years old, and at the very least a computer at home), or take responsibility to monitor their online activity across all devices.
Many friends ask me if I feel guilty looking at what my kids are doing online. My response? With the alarming increase in children’s cyber-crimes, I have a responsibility to be a parent and be in the know. While I don’t micromanage every last online action they take, I have the ability to perform regular spot checks or at least check it any time I feel concerned.
We can’t afford not to monitor our children online as they access the internet, and especially as the internet accesses them. Too many cyber-crime stories involving children and unaware parents have been reported after it’s too late. The risks are way too big.
What do you think? How do you monitor your children’s online activities? What’s appropriate for what ages? Click “Comments” below to contribute to this important conversation.
Posted in Children, Media, technology
Tagged cyber-bullying, cyber-monitoring, Instagram, parental cyber controls, Yik Yak
The 1-2 punch of high rents and internet technology has knocked out another longtime locally owned Westport business.
The Textile Store joins Silver’s as a 3rd-generation store that’s closing. Coincidentally, the fabric store is in the Compo Shopping Center — across the street from the Compo Acres gift and luggage shop.
The strip malls are owned by different landlords. But tenants in both have seen hefty rent increases in recent years.
Lori Yanell and her mother pose for a Westport News ad, around 1966.
Lori Yanell is the daughter of Textile Store owner Marty Yanell. She says the store was founded in 1940 in South Norwalk, and moved to its current location in 1960.
It’s been an enormous part of her life. Her mother was a great seamstress, and made matching outfits that they “modeled” in the 1960s and ’70s.
Business has been cyclical, Lori says. Though far fewer Westport women sew their own clothes these days, there’s been a recent resurgence spurred by young people — including boys.
But, Lori notes, the internet has hurt business substantially. Coupled with higher rent, her father decided to close.
He did not want to. But he’ll be 86 in April, and this gives him a chance to retire and travel.
The last day of business is at the end of February. All fabrics are marked down now. Lori hopes lots of familiar faces stop by.
Hey, why not make a day of it? After you’re done shopping at the Textile Store, cross the street for the sale at Silver’s.
Posted in Local business, People
Tagged Lori Yanell, Marty Yanell, Silver's of Westport, The Textile Store of Westport
Four years ago in Tel Aviv, Vadim Mejerson looked out his hotel window. He saw what looked like a child’s playground — but it was filled with adults. They were all exercising, on equipment you’d find in a gym but adapted for outdoors.
You or I might think, “Hmmm … interesting.” Meyerson — a longtime Weston resident with a Ph.D. in exercise physiology, who helped Exxon and many other companies develop fitness centers for executives — thought: “Wow … opportunity!”
He and his son Adam — who’d seen the same sight, independently, on that trip to Israel — did some research. They learned the parks were open 24/7. Some were roofed. Some were linked by bike trails.
A Fitlot park by the sea in Israel…
Vadim and Adam found that outdoor fitness parks were exploding in popularity around the world. England, Switzerland, Australia, Canada — everywhere, it seemed, governments and private sources were developing 1,000-square-foot areas where people could work out, get fit and socialize.
Everywhere — except the U.S.
Believing that every individual should enjoy the health benefits of parks like these, they formed a 501(c)(3) organization called FitLot. Partnering with neighborhood associations, and with funding from corporations, foundations and governments, it’s developing outdoor fitness parks throughout New Orleans.
That’s a perfect place for them. The city is burdened with obesity, diabetes and other health-related problems — but it’s also rebuilding itself, in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.
…and one in Europe.
Now Mejerson wants to build facilities closer to home.
The other day he and 2 fellow enthusiasts — Steven Lewine and Rick Jaffe — talked about their vision for Westport.
“It’s free. It’s easy to access. It’s not an intimidating ‘gym environment,’ so it appeals to everyone,” Lewine said.
They ticked off potential spots for outdoor fitness parks: Compo Beach. Luciano Park, near the train station. The Y. The library. The Senior Center. Winslow Park. Baron’s South. The front lawn of Town Hall. Mini-parks, like Grace Salmon on Imperial Avenue.
They also like Sherwood Island. Connected by bike trails, they say, the fitness parks would be a way of tying the town together with the state park in our midst.
A roof may be necessary for a Westport outdoor fitness park.
They know there are obstacles. Compo Beach is in the early stages of a renovation project. Winslow Park has been deemed “open space.” Bike paths are tough to build and maintain.
Still, the 3 men have had preliminary discussions with town officials, including 1st Selectman Jim Marpe, Parks and Recreation Department director Stuart McCarthy, and Parks and Rec Commission chair Charlie Haberstroh. The talks were “constructive and productive,” Lewine says.
The cost of an outdoor fitness center is no more than $100,000 — 10% of the cost of an indoor facility, Jaffe says.
“It’s inexpensive, it’s public, it’s a beautiful concept,” notes Mejerson. “There’s no downside.”
Westporters embrace physical fitness.
“We think the community would welcome this gift with open arms,” Lewine adds. (It would be a “gift” thanks to corporate or private sponsorship.) “Westport is an enlightened town that considers physical fitness to be an important value.”
The big problem, the outdoor parks advocates know, is finding the right space(s), then gaining public support.
In Israel, Mejerson says, outdoor fitness parks are everywhere: hospitals, schools, prisons, gas stations, eldercare facilities.
Will one or more rise in Westport? If so, where? Click “Comments” to weigh in.
Posted in Beach, Downtown, People, Saugatuck, Sports, YMCA
Tagged FitLot, outdoor fitness parks, Richard Jaffe, Steven Lewine, Vadim Mejerson
So you think you know Westport?
Whether you’re a native, a newcomer or an expat, “06880” is introducing a new feature we think everyone will enjoy.
Each Sunday at noon, we’ll post a photo of some place in town. It may be vaguely familiar, or a close-up of a spot you see every day.
Lynn U. Miller — a longtime Westporter, Staples grad, very talented photographer and good friend — will provide the images. She’s got a great eye for finding offbeat angles, and obscure parts of familiar scenes.
Your job is to figure out where it is. Click “Comments” to be the 1st to nail it. If someone beat you to it, feel free to add some thoughts on what that particular place means to you.
It’s the end of a holiday weekend, so we’ll start with an easy one. Enjoy!
(Photo/Lynn U. Miller)
Lynn U. Miller describes herself as a “chronicler of family, friends and events.” She started on that path at Kings Highway Elementary and Bedford Junior High Schools. She still has some of those photos — along with a few old Instamatics.
Growing up surrounded by art, and viewing this town (and the world, and life) through a lens, she documented the ever-changing Westport landscape. She looks forward to showing future grandchildren pictures of cool places around town.
Lynn graduated from Staples in 1971, and Arcadia University in 1975 with a major in English. She lived in New York City, and met her husband Jason in their building. They moved to Annapolis after marrying in 1980, and moved back here to be close to family.
“I’m a big fan of Westport: the town and the people,” Lynn says.
Lynn is a frequent contributing photographer to WestportNow.com. Her favorite pastime is using the computer to create altered images and collages.
Lynn and Jason have 3 children: Meghan, who lives in Branford; Daniel, and Andrew, a junior at Roger Williams University. Lynn’s father, Larry Untermeyer, is a well-known Westport photographer.
Boy Scouts are supposed to do a “good turn” daily.
It’s hard to imagine a better one than what they’ve got planned for Saturday, January 10.
Troop 39 of Westport will pick up your Christmas tree. That once beautiful, now dying and needle-dropping symbol of last month’s holiday cheer can be disposed of with one simple mouse click.
To register for this much-needed service, click here. Then place your tree by your mailbox by 6:30 a.m. on Saturday — yeah, you do have to move it that far yourself — and tape an envelope with your donation to your front door.
The suggested donation is $20 per tree. I’m sure the scouts would not refuse higher amounts.
The Boy Scouts are well known for “good turns” like helping little old ladies across streets. Bush league. In Westport, they help little old ladies — and strapping young men — dispose of big old Christmas trees.
Troop 39 in action.
Comments Off on O Christmas Tree … Go Christmas Tree!
Posted in Environment, Organizations
Tagged Boy Scout Troop 39, Christmas trees
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