Scott Smith has been fascinated by what he calls “the ramshackle architectural folly” on Edgemarth Hill Road for 20 years. He writes:
Today I drove by to see 2 guys hauling away all the wood and trash that had collected on the property for decades.
I asked if it was a complete teardown. One fellow said, “Yeah – wanna take a look inside?”
You bet I did.
I’m sure there are treasures inside among all the mess, but it will all go to landfill. I think the house sold a year ago or so, and as it’s 3 acres, no doubt a magnificent new home will rise in its place. Imagine the stories and the history in this old house.
Judy Collins — the singer/songwriter who has entertained and inspired fans since the 1960s — is coming to the Westport Country Playhouse.
She’ll be onstage April 12 (8 p.m.). Encore Club members can buy tickets now; public sale begins January 26 at noon. Click here for more information.
Also ahead at the Playhouse: “All Things Equal: The Life & Trials of Ruth Bader Ginsberg.” Written by Rupert Holmes, it’s a one-woman play in which the Supreme Court justice welcomes a friend of the family to her chambers to convey a sense of her career, and personal life.
The show is May 3 and 4 (8 p.m.), and May 5 (3 p.m.). Click here for more information.
And on July 25 the Bacon Brothers bring their unique mix of folk, rock, soul and country music to the Playhouse. Click here for more information.
Westporters — especially seniors and those with low to moderate incomes — can once again take advantage of the town’s no-cost full-service AARP/VITA/IRS Volunteer Tax Assistance Program.
On-site personal counseling is available by appointment at Town Hall (Mondays from 1 to 7 p.m.) and the Senior Center (Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.), starting January 22. Call 860-590-8910 for an appointment, or click here.
The “SimplyCT” counselor group that services Westport prepared and filed more than 7,000 returns last season – almost all electronically. Federal refunds of over $10 million were received by their clients..
The program is administered by Westport’s Department of Human Services.
An incident that began when 2 people illegally entered a home and attacked 3 others on Friday morning in Old Saybrook ended in Westport.
One, armed with a baseball bat, injured the homeowners. The suspect then removed an adult woman from the home against her will, and fled.
Old Saybrook police sent an alert to law enforcement agencies to be on the lookout for a car with New York license plates carrying the victim.
Westport police located the vehicle when it was getting gas. They arrested the suspects, seized the bat, and took the woman who had been taken from her home to Norwalk Hospital, with non-life threatening injuries.
(Click here for the full story. Hat tip: Betsy Pollak)
Remember the I-95 Saugatuck River bridge replacement project last fall?
Relive all the key moments — in a lot quicker time than it took (though of course, kudos to all who accomplished the work in just 2 weekends) — in this very cool video, from the Connecticut Department of Transportation:
Badass Bagels — the popular shop in the Sugar & Olives space just over the Norwalk line, owned by Westporter Jennifer Balin — has just opened a new location in Armonk, New York.
“It’s totally our brand,” she says.” The space is warm, cozy, and decked out with vintage furniture from Bridgeport’s Mongers Market (where they have another location).
Badass’ expanded sourdough bagel offerings include 10 varieties: everything, whole wheat everything, golden sesame, black sesame, Himalayan blue poppy, smoked sea salt, plain, cinny raisin, pumpernickel caraway everything, and naked whole wheat. (Ramp bagels are offered in May.)
There are plenty of spreads and butters too, like “sweet and lovely” with Westport honey.
Badass Bagels also sells coffee beans and whole espresso/coffee.
Stores hours in Norwalk and Armonk are Wednesdays through Sundays, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. They sell at the Westport Farmers’ Market and Double L Market too.
The Senior Center Super Bowl “tailgate party” is a great one. And you don’t even have to hang out in the parking lot.
It’s indoors. This year’s event (February 11) includes a “final score contest,” and a Friends of the Westport Center for Senior Activities Service Award presentation to the wonderful Patty Kondub, who does so much in so many ways for the senior community.
The menu includes hot dogs, chips, spring rolls and dessert.
Staples High School state champion football and field hockey teams, and Staples and Westport PAL cheerleaders will be there too.
All ages are welcome. Lunch is at 12:30; the party begins at 1:30.
Thursday’s Westport Weston Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours event drew a large crowd to VFW Joseph J. Clinton Post 399.
VFW Auxiliary member Patty Kondub’s meatballs complemented the fun vibe, filled with networking opportunities and great music afterward (Jazz at the Post).
Enjoying Business After Hours (from left): Virginia Ferrari, Paul Liebowitz, Patty Kondub, Sal Liccione, Matthew Mandell.
Colleen Sadick is a beloved Coleytown Elementary School professional. The CES community has rallied around her as she battles bone marrow cancer.
As Colleen has had to step back from her 2 jobs (she is also a behavioral mentor), her income has been impacted. CES organized a GoFundMe page to help the family with medical expenses, transportation, post-treatment care and daily costs.
After a number of interviews, the Democratic Town Committee nominations committee will recommend Abby Gordon-Tolan for the Board of Education vacancy, and Joe Scordato for the Zoning Board of Appeal vacancy.
The full DTC will vote Monday on the recommendations.
Merrill Jay Forgotson – an accomplished community banker and fierce advocate for justice and equal opportunity – died peacefully in his sleep on Wednesday, January 17, at his Westport home. He was 81.
The New York City native credited his mother and father, a World War II hero, for challenging him to lead a life of purpose, centered on education.
He earned a BS in finance from Northeastern University followed, by a JD from Boston University and an MBA from Western New England College.
Jay paid his way through college and law school by washing dishes, serving ice cream, and packaging newspapers and magazines overnight for early morning delivery.
Motivated by the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark decision in Gideon v. Wainright in 1963, which affirmed a constitutional right to legal counsel for anyone charged with committing a crime, Jay started his career as a defense attorney
He transitioned into finance, starting at Mass Mutual and advancing to become general counsel at Barclays Business Credit.
In 1990 Jay joined People’s Bank as senior vice [resident/chief credit administration officer. He also served as chair of the Connecticut Anti-Defamation League, where he shaped diversity programming to combat hate and discrimination in all their forms.
In 2000, Jay left People’s to run Cornerstone Bank in Stamford. Running the profitable mission-centered community depository was one of the joys of his professional life.
During a brief sabbatical, Jay served as dean of the business school at the University of Bridgeport. But community banking kept calling. Jay served as CEO of BNC Financial Group, and started the Bank of Fairfield and Stamford First Bank.
After retiring in 2013 he enjoyed family and friends in Connecticut and Sarasota, Florida; volunteered for non-profits; consumed current events and advocated for fairness, and photographed.
Jay is survived by his wife, Janis Reader-Forgotson; sons Nathaniel, Josh and Matthew; grandchildren Evan, Ianto, Floriana, Zachary and Benjamin, and dogs Lola and Cimba. He was predeceased by his younger sister Barbara Garavuso.
Donations in lieu of flowers can be made to ADL Connecticut. A Memorial Service will be held tomorrow (Sunday, January 21, 12:30 p.m., Temple Shalom. Norwalk).
And finally … Peter Schickele, a serious concert musician and also the genius behind madcap PDQ Bach, died Tuesday near Woodstock, New York. He was 88. Click here for a full obituary.
(How to amuse yourself on a cold winter weekend? Read about everything happening in town, now and in the future. If you like what we do, please click here to support our work. Thank you!)
Posted onJanuary 20, 2024|Comments Off on Library And VersoFest: “Stop Making Sense”
A remixed, remastered, 4K, 40th anniversary re-release of Jonathan Demme’s 1984 film “Stop Making Sense“ has excited Talking Heads fans — and members like Chris Frantz and Tina Weymouth, who across the Sturges Highway border in Fairfield.
There’s been a nationwide publicity tour, with everyone from Stephen Colbert to Sonic Youth’s Kim Gordon paying tribute.
Now it’s coming to Westport.
On February 9, the re-release comes toThe Westport Library.
The event is a benefit for both VersoFest and WPKN-FM, where Frantz hosts a monthly radio show (“The Talking Head”).
‘PKN DJs will spin vinyl before and after the film, followed by a Q-and-A with Frantz and Weymouth.
VersoFest 2024 — the 4-day music and media conference and festival featuring performances, panels and workshops — takes place April 4-7. Music producer Tony Visconti and pop rockers the Lemon Twigs have already been signed. More names will be announced soon.
Frantz and Weymouth supported VersoFest since its inception. He has moderated discussions with music producer Steve Lillywhite and Psychedelic Furs front man Richard Butler, and discussed his memoir “Remain in Love.”
For 60 years, WPKN (89.5) has been a hallmark of listener-supported, freeform community radio. The New Yorker called it “the greatest radio station in the world.”
Verso Studios — with its 18×10-foot LED screen and concert hall sound system, has screened Connecticut premieres of Todd Haynes’ Velvet Underground documentary, and other innovative screenings.
Dancing in the aisles is encouraged.
Click here for tickets (starting at $20), and more information. The night includes a cash bar.
(“06880” relies on reader support. Please click here to make a tax-deductible contribution. Thank you!)
Comments Off on Library And VersoFest: “Stop Making Sense”
Back in the day — long before the PAL Skating Rink at Longshore, and even before its predecessor, the rink next to the miniature golf course (for decades now, the Westport Tennis Club indoor courts behind Goodwill) — there were plenty of places to skate in Westport.
Ponds like the one on Bulkley Avenue North welcomed all. Most are gone now — though Round Pond across from Longshore (where Dorothy Hamill often skated, while visiting relatives nearby) still draws crowds when it’s safely frozen.
Not far away, the corner of Compo Road South and Bridge Street — before I-95 plowed through — was also very popular.
This was no ordinary outdoor venue. It was owned by Parke Cummings — a noted author, humorist, and frequent contributor to the New Yorker and Sports Illutrated.
Prolific Westport author Carl Addison Swanson writes: “While the book, movie and most news stories deal with the Great Ice Storm Felix of December 1973, which paralyzed the entire state of Connecticut, 50 years ago today another ice storm hit Westport and surrounding towns.
“I know it well, for it was my wedding day. It took us close to 3 hours to get from Westport to the church in New Canaan.
“The Merritt Parkway was a sheet of ice, and the caterer smashed into a telephone pole delivering yummies to the Roger Sherman Inn.
“The ice finally melted, as did the marriage.”
January 1974 ice storm. (Photo courtesy of Carl Addison Swanson)
(Friday Flashback is a regular “06880” feature. If you enjoy it, or any other regular items — or anything else — please click here to support our work. Thank you!)
The doors to what is now known as Old Mill Grocery & Deli by Romanacci swung open this morning. They’ll be there from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.
The new operators welcome neighborhood residents, beach walkers and joggers and bicyclists, and anyone else in town (and out) to stop by and check them out.
On Tuesday, Donald Lowman headed to New York. Without a sticker, he parked in the Greens Farms station daily lot — up the hill, near the school buses.
When he arrived back at 10:30 p.m., he realized his nice leather shoes were inadequate for going down the hill, across the street and up the next hill.
Suddenly, a Jeep pulled up. The woman in the passenger seat said, “Jump in. We can take you wherever you need to go.”
They would have driven him all the way home. Instead, they delivered him to his car.
The couple said they’d wait to see if his car started. But the door handle was frozen.
The driver got out, found his windshield scraper and handed it over. Don scraped the ice off the handle.
He got in, turned on the defroster, and told his saviors they were a godsend.
“I would not have been able to make it down or up the hills near the station, and would have gotten seriously injured if I tried,” Don says.
“Their simple, timely, random act of kindness was unbelievably important and appreciated. And it offset the admittedly cynical views of other people that I have developed over the past several years of watching increasingly selfish motorists endangering or inconveniencing others.
“There are some truly wonderful people in our town, and it was my luck to run into 2 of the best. Stories like these renew one’s faith in the generosity and selflessness of others.”
Navigating Greens Farms station’s hills is no easy task. Al Willmott captured this scene years ago.
This Sunday, as many people march across America to support women’s rights, the Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Westport will sponsor a teach-in on abortion.
REACH (Reproductive Equity, Access and CHoice) will lead the 11:30 a.m., which begins with a free brunch. They’ll discuss abortion access from a social justice point of view, across all communities.
Attendees are invited to wear a pink pussycat hat or other branded item. Questions: Email events@uuwestport.org.
When Parker Greenberg was born in 2016, her parents instantly knew something was not right.
She was born with a very rare genetic condition, HIST1H1E Syndrome that leaves her with severe special needs. Hers was the 8th case diagnosed worldwide, a week before her second birthday.
Daily life is a challenge for the young Westporter. She sees a large team of specialists, has undergone many surgeries, and had plenty of medical scares.
Yet, her mother Kimberly says, “our determined little girl has never given up. She continues to teach us new things daily, including how to stay positive.”
The Greenbergs thank the Star Rubino Center, Stepping Stones Preschool and Coleytown Elementary School for being instrumental to Parker’s success.
Her family set up Parker’s Cure, a non-profit foundation for families facing HIST1H1E Syndrome. Funds raised go to research into the disease.
On January 26, the foundation hosts its 2nd annual Bowlin & Booze Bash (Bowlero Lanes, Norwalk). Tickets (click here) include 2 1/2 hours of bowling, an open bar and food.
There’s an auction too, with sports tickets, autographed memorabilia, JL Rocks jewelry, experiences and more.
Bidding begins January 24 (9 a.m.), and closes at midnight January 27. Click here for more information.
Amy Simon Fine Art is collaborating on an exhibition at Christian Siriano’s The Collective West.
The launch — featuring the art of Amy Genser, Donald martiny and René Romero Schuler — is January 25 (6 to 9 p.m.),
Questions? Email info@amysimonfineart.com, or call 203-259-1500.
Christian Soriano, in The Collective West.
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More art news: Sorelle Gallery is going to the dogs.
A reception and artist talk February 10 (2 to 5 p.m., 19 Church Lane) for their exhibition and artist talk featuring Russell Miyaki will benefit local rescue organizations Dog Star Rescue and Westport Animal Shelter Advocates.
Dogs available for adoption will be on site, along with doggie bags and a raffle by Earth Animal. All pups are welcome, for “bone bar” treats from Pet Pantry.
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Sure, there was a Polar Plunge on New Year’s Day. But the temperature was positively balmy — almost 50.
A group of Westporters plunges often at Compo Beach, all winter long. This week, with the air temperature just 28 degrees, and the water a near-freezing 38, they were at it for their usual 10 minutes or so.
Come summer, they swim for 2 hours.
And, presumably, spend a bit more time chatting afterward.
From left: Derek Yach, Markus Marty, Miroslaw Krzysztof. I’m freezing just looking at this photo.
Stop the presses (pun intended): National Coffee Break Day is January 20.
To celebrate, Green & Tonic offers coffee lovers a chance to win free coffee for a year — and an overnight getaway at the Delamar Greenwich Harbor.
One gold sticker and 6 green stickers will be hidden on the bottoms of Supr Brew Coffee, latte and tea cups. The grand prize winner gets the goods above. The other 6 will enjoy free Supr Brew Coffee for a year.
The contest runs until February 11. Which is, of course, National Latte Day.
Win your free coffee here!
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Registration opens February 1 for the CT Challenge. The July 28 bi7e ride — with distances of 10, 25, 40, 62, 100 and virtual — raises funds for the local non-profit Mission. They help 16.9 million cancer survivors in Connecticut and throughout the US rebuild, improve and prolong their lives through exercise, nutrition, mind-body health and community-building support programs.
Longtime Weston resident Claire Sansone died suddenly and peacefully last week. She was 85.
While attending Queens College, she met Ronny Sansone. She was crowned “sweetheart” of Beta Phi. They married in 1962.
They moved from Floral Park, Long Island to Weston in 1974, and remained in their beloved home for nearly 50 years.
Claire worked for more than a decade as a State of Connecticut Department of Children Youth Services social worker. She placed foster children in safe homes, and arranged adoptions. After retirement, she received many letters and pictures from her adopted and foster placements, thanking her for helping change their lives.
Claire enjoyed spending time with her family. Orchestrating trips was a passion.
She is survived by her children Janine (Stuart), Ronald (Kim) and Robert (Kristina), and grandchildren Isabelle and Sophia Levine and Enzo Sansone. She was predeceased by her husband Ronald, and and brothers Armand and Thomas Rainville.
A private graveside service will be held tomorrow (Saturday, January 20, Willowbrook Cemetery).
Claire Sansone
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Oh, deer!
This one seems to take this week’s snowfall in stride.
Claudia Sherwood Servidio snapped today’s “Westport .. Naturally” shot at Cross Highway. near Main Street.
“Parents for a New LLS” is a grassroots campaign founded by Westporters and Long Lots Elementary School mothers Sarah Morrison and Veronica Tysseland. Their goal is to get a new school built for the children of Longs Lots ASAP.
The group is not affiliated with any political party. Anyone who shares their mission is welcome to join.
The revised 8-24 submitted yesterday by our First Selectwoman represents a compromise, and should be unanimously approved by the Planning and Zoning Commissioners.
Based on our conversations with various members of town boards, we feel that this newly designed proposal takes into account their feedback and makes the appropriate adjustments to the prior submitted 8-24. Furthermore, it satisfies all requests from affected parties, while also taking into account the topographical limitations of 13 Hyde Lane.
All elements of the property are retained on site, with the exception of an existing substandard baseball field which is eliminated.
Given that we are in the 8-24 stage of the process, final size determinations of each element have not been presented, and it is not our place to speculate on them. They are subject to change based on the necessary size of the new school and the adjoining “shooter safe” parking lot, which remain the priorities.
As it pertains to the parking lot, the proposed site plan currently shows 175 to 195 spaces. The existing lot today has 195 spaces. Any parent will tell you it is not even sufficient for daily pickup needs.
Add Stepping Stones Preschool there, with our most fragile under-5population, and it becomes obvious that more parking will be required.
In short, the parking lot will inevitably change, which will have a domino effect on the size of the fields and gardens. This parking lot must also be designed to include “shooter safe” features in keeping with today’s standards, which may further dictate the size and layout of the subsequent field and gardens.
The current Long Lots School parking lot. (Photo/Dan Woog)
The most critical elements that we believe should be highlighted in the 8-24 include:
Rebuilding of the multipurpose field and gardens will allow proper drainage to be installed on Terrace 1.
The gardens will be rebuilt to maintain the requested buffer between the neighbors and the relocated field.
The proposed field space shrinks to accommodate the gardens; final size TBD based on the aforementioned size of the new school and adjoining parking lot.
13 Hyde Lane currently houses a school, fields and a community garden. The modified plan submitted houses a school, fields and a community garden. Again, the size of each of these is yet to be determined.
As parents, we feel this plan represents the requested compromises to appease all critical constituents. We urge P&Z to pass this plan unanimously, so that professionals can get to work on the details to be presented at the site plan stage.
Any further delays on this project is unacceptable; attempts at compromise were made and denied many months ago. We urge our fellow community members to accept this updated plan, which does satisfy the specific wishes of different factions of our community.
The political machinations of the past several months have not gone unnoticed, and are inappropriate in this context. Long Lots parents and all of our supporters in the community will no longer accept the finger pointing and unproductive diatribe that has overtaken this project.
We trust in our elected officials and our volunteer working committees and sincerely believe you should do the same. It is the only way forward.
As temperatures plunge, Westporters’ tempers rise.
Well, that’s not exactly true. They’ve been at a boiling point for months.
Enough is enough.
A pair of controversies — the Parker Harding Plaza renovation, and construction of a new Long Lots School — have evoked passionate responses by residents, on all sides of the many-pronged issues.
Plus plenty of anger, nastiness and personal attacks.
For nearly 15 years, the “06880” Comments section has been a place to share opinions, insights and ideas.
From time to time, it becomes a place of incivility, even venom.
This is one of those times.
Again: Enough is enough.
An elementary school reconstruction plan sparks fierce debate.
It’s fine — crucial, in fact — for Westporters to offer their 2 cents. We need to hear what our neighbors, friends and fellow taxpayers think.
It’s not fine to attack them, impugn their motives, and call them names. It’s certainly not fine to swear at, or about, them.
These are, after all, our neighbors, friends and fellow taxpayers.
Some are just like us: sitting on the sidelines, watching the world of Westport go by.
Some have taken the bold step of volunteering for public service, devoting hundreds of hours to do what they can to help our town.
It’s mind-numbing to watch some of their meetings. It’s mind-boggling to think that’s only part of what they do, for no pay.
And not only no thanks, but volumes of vitriol.
Long Lots School Building Committee members are volunteers.
Even those public servants who get paid — the 1st selectwoman and heads of departments, for example — are human beings. They have feelings and families, just like all the keyboard warriors.
I’ve said it before, in this post and in the past. Now I have to say it again: Enough is enough.
We tell our kids to stop bullying. We lament the polarized state of our nation.
So let’s start modeling the behavior we want. Actions speak louder than angry words.
It’s time to reiterate rules that I’ve made in the past (and unfortunately, as the sometimes overwhelmed Comments moderator, not always followed): No personal, ad hominem attacks.
No accusations of nefarious activity.
No swearing.
Before commenting — or at least, hitting “submit” — ask yourself: Is this really the way I want people to think of me?
Is this something I would be comfortable saying in front of my kids — or hearing them say?
If I heard someone else say it in a public meeting, at the supermarket, or in church or synagogue, what would I think?
Moving forward, commenters will be limited to 3 per thread. Be judicious. Don’t repeat yourself. Address the topic, not the person. Play nice.
Violators will be given a “time out” — banned for a while — just like elementary schoolers. You know, the same kids some adults are writing about.
Westport can be a contentious community. Everyone has an opinion, and there are multiple controversies to have opinions about.
But it is still a community. It’s a small town, filled with neighbors and friends.
Everyone here wants it to be the best it can be. We may disagree on what that means. That’s normal, and appropriate.
That does not mean anyone who disagrees with us is malicious or evil. No one here is out to destroy the town.
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The event is a benefit for both VersoFest and WPKN-FM, where Frantz hosts a monthly radio show (“The Talking Head”).
Based on our conversations with various members of town boards, we feel that this newly designed proposal takes into account their feedback and makes the appropriate adjustments to the prior submitted 8-24. Furthermore, it satisfies all requests from affected parties, while also taking into account the topographical limitations of 13 Hyde Lane.
