The latest additions — or deletions — at Compo Beach are several trees on Schlaet’s Point.
For decades they graced the corner of Soundview and Hillspoint. They’re gone now — opening up the vista, while eliminating shade.
One important tree escaped the axe, though: Fiona’s.
Who can argue with the idea of Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) — a project through which people purchase shares in local farmers, and in return receive weekly boxes, bags or baskets of seasonal produce each week throughout the farming season?
Westporters, apparently.
Responding to an “06880” story about a similar effort involving area restaurants, one reader wrote:
Unfortunately, we do not get to choose what we get in our shares as the restaurants do. I have had more than my share of collard greens and kale, to say nothing of garlic. I would have liked to have seen more beans and carrots for example.
One week I got four carrots, not even one inch long that someone actually put a rubber band around! We got one week of white beans and that was it. I don’t know that I will buy a share next year.
Three Westport families take a less grumpy view.
Recently, they got together at Peter Propp and Suzanne Sherman’s house to enjoy what Anne Hardy calls “the weekly and bountiful CSA box.”
Peter Propp preps.
Each family brought the food they’d received. They dumped it on the counter, then started prepping and cooking.
The goal was to try to use all of it, in one way or another. They nearly succeeded, leaving only a few ears of corn, a couple of onions and a small bag of cherry tomatoes.
Peter masterminded what was dubbed “Group CSA Top Chef Dinner.” His CSA chicken dish — cooked according to a 15-year-old recipe from Joan Baez’s tour manager — was a special hit.
“It took the boredom of prepping vegetables — something you have to love with this box scheme — out of the equation,” Anne reported.
“And it was fun!”
At noon today, Compo’s South Beach was filled with invisible people picnicking, grilling and enjoying one of the most beautiful days of the year.
“06880” reader John McCarthy posted a simple status update on Facebook:
Hearing some very disturbing things about huge increases in sewer fees in Westport, CT. Smelly business.
His friends quickly joined the fray.
“Probably based on water usage instead of a flat fee,” said Board of Finance member Charles W.K. Haberstroh. “Large increases will hurt certain businesses, like YMCA, restaurants, gyms, large families. Don’t know if there is a phase-in process. Haven’t heard, do you know?”
It does not seem usage-based, McCarthy replied. He cited someone married — with no kids — who faced a 28% increase.
McCarthy’s own family of 4 — “with no abnormal water usage” — saw its bill rise from $382 to $633.96, a 66% increase. “All that was supposed to happen,” he said, “was a re-allocation based on usage.”
Matthew Mandell — like McCarthy, an RTM member — posted that at the previous night’s meeting, “we heard the dope on this. Fees would have gone to $450 across the board. Debt service is part of the increase.
“Fee from now on will be based on water usage instead of one flat fee for all. Aquarion is providing the water numbers. So the more you shower, do clothes, do dishes and flush the more you pay to sewer it. Bigger houses and families more, empty nesters and small houses less.”
Jimmy Izzo’s bill went from $285 to $685. He wondered if the sewer bill is “a hidden way of paying pensions and other shortfalls.”
McCarthy responded with this info: “Usage charges are budgeted to increase 12% this year ($3.13 to $3.41 million).”
He cited 4 examples he’s heard, of increases ranging from 30% to 140%. “How do these increases average out to 12%” across the board, he asked.
“Individual usage varies a lot,” noted Haberstroh. Pools and/or lawn sprinkler systems will cause a “geometric” sewer bill increase.
McCarthy countered quickly: “Charlie, the rates were set based on the last Dec-May bills in order to exclude the impact of pools and lawn watering.”
The debate — and questions — continue. “06880” readers are invited to weigh in. Hold your noses — but don’t hold back.
Spotted this afternoon at Compo Beach:
Doesn’t have quite the power of “I Hunt, I Vote,” does it?
In response to this morning’s “06880” post on bumper stickers, reader John Raho sent along a few he saw — “on a car from Massachusetts, of all places.”
“You usually only see things like this on Volvos, and then they’re usually slogans and such from the other side,” John added helpfully.
And, he continued, “the stickers are the views and commentary of the driver and in no way represent the views of the sender in any way…yada…yada…yada.”
In honor of the 1st Amendment — and because it looks like a slow weekend — I’m publishing John’s photos.
But — I can’t help myself — I posted them all as far to the right side as possible.
Posted in Politics, Totally random
Great news! Westport’s 1st Halloween store of 2010 opens on Thursday (Sept. 9).
Cleverly named “Halloween Headquarters,” it’s located near Fresh Market.
Because you definitely need 2 months to prepare for this major holiday.
Ever noticed all the magnets, stickers, ovals and other what-not stuck on cars, trucks and whatever these days?
An alert “06880” reader has. Here’s his report:
We Americans love our cars. We may not buy American cars, but we like to keep them shiny and looking good. We also like to adorn them with various indicators of our self-esteem and/or insecurity. Bumper stickers seem to be passé here in Westport, but a casual ride through the Stop & Shop parking lot and Longshore reveals that we still like some kind of identity on our automobiles:
A proud mother lives through her child
Education. We love to show off where we went, or our kids go to school: Lafayette, George Washington, Johns Hopkins, Art Institute of Boston, University of Colorado, Fairfield University, Fairfield Prep were all shown today. If you went to an Ivy League school, you use the crescent to discreetly tell people that you probably make more money than they do. Some prefer college alumni plates around their license plates. This costs more, but doesn’t get all ratty like the stickers when your kid flunks out after the second year.
Sports. We show off our favorite team. There were a lot of Staples soccer, football, lacrosse and swimming emblems. Somebody must make a small fortune there. Also, some marathon runners with the 26.2 logo. Nice. A lot of Yankee stickers, with many Red Sox bumper stickers as well. The Yankee ones looked newer. A Giant football helmet. Sorry, no Jets or Mets today. This ain’t Long Island.
Patriotism. People also boast how patriotic they are. Many flags on the back of cars have ribbons saying “Support the Troops” or “Proud to be an American.” One had “Endless War,” but it was fading from the sun. There was one Vietnam campaign ribbon, plus many Marine Corps emblems. I like that. Put your money where your mouth is.
A few political signs, mostly Obama ’08. Wait a few months for the mid-term elections, and they’ll be plentiful.
Dueling decals: Martha's Vineyard and Oak Bluffs.
Destination. We’ve created a special type of communication: We abbreviate where we’ve visited, have a summer home, or maybe would just like to go. VT (Vermont), CC (Cape Cod), MV (Martha’s Vineyard), OBX (Outer Banks), BI (British Islands), and many more that were beyond recognition. SI, WO, ADK, MA for examples. Is this some kind of secret language between the visitor and the inhabitants of the area, because it is almost encrypted to the guy who can afford to travel???
Assorted. There were many AAA stickers on old cars. This tells me a lot of old people worry they’ll break down someplace. They don’t know how to use the cell phone they just got for Father’s Day, so they rely on the sticker to halt traffic. I should know, because I have one on my car. There are also animal lovers. “Woof” and “Meow” stickers were prevalent on my tour. One, with a blackened retriever emblem on it, had 2 real dogs sticking their heads out thear’s window. Not much need for a sticker there.
I was not totally surprised that most automobiles on my mini-trip around town were SUVs. I guess word hasn’t gotten out about the rising gas prices, global warming or our involvement in the Middle East because of our dependency on foreign oil? On a positive note, there’s more room on a big car to put your beloved stickers.
I had never heard of SantaBarbaraSolutions.com, a California-based website.
That’s okay; they probably never heard of “06880” either.
But a question on the site recently asked: “Do you consider Fairfield County, CT to be part of New England?”
“I know technically it is, but it really isn’t at the same time,” the writer began. He or she added:
Nobody in the FC roots for the New England teams. People root (properly) for the New York teams. I’ve lived here for 8 years, nobody roots for the Boston teams. Everyone else in CT, roots for the scum (AKA Boston teams), the FC is proper.
When people from the FC come to NY they’re New Yorkers, locals. When people from other parts of Connecticut come to NY they’re tourists scum like the rest of the country.
Leaving aside the obvious — that no one here calls this “the FC” — the post raises another, even more provincial question:
“Do you consider Westport to be part of Connecticut”?
For example:
What do you think, “06880” readers? Is Westport part of Connecticut?
Part of New York? Or some stateless place, maybe an American version of Kaliningrad?
Click “Comments” to weigh in.
An alert “06880” reader wondered if we’d seen 2 dumpsters on Westport roads.
One’s on Terhune Drive; the other (below) is on Pleasant Valley Lane.
No, we hadn’t seen them. But we did a little drive-by, and sure enough, there they were.
They’ve been sitting there for 6-8 months, the reader reported.
And “they smell like hell.”
Indeed they do. Look closely at the photo. You can almost see the odor waves wafting off, like a cartoon.
There oughta be a law…
Wait! Maybe there is one, already on the books.
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