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Pic Of The Day #1272

Posted on October 10, 2020 | 2 comments

Signs like these are seen all over town. This is on Bulkley Avenue North. (Photo/Tom Lowrie)

2 Comments

Posted in Pic of the Day

Tagged Yard sign

Roundup: Flu Shots, Voters Guide, CLASP Concert, More

Posted on October 10, 2020 | 1 comment

There is no COVID vaccine yet. But — uh oh — flu season is near. And the Westport Weston Health District is offering flu shots.

Clinics are set for Wednesday, October 21 (9:30 to 11:30 a.m.); Wednesday, October 28 (2 to 3 p.m.), and Monday November 16 (1 to 4 p.m.).

There are no walk-ins. All appointments must be scheduled in advanced. Click here for details.

The WWHD accepts Medicare, ConnectiCare, Cigna, Aetna and HUSKY insurance, as well as credit cards, checks and cash.

Questions? Call 203-227-9571, ext. 231.

For decades, voters have relied on the League of Women Voters’ Westport Voters’ Guide. It was delivered with the local newspaper.

It’s here now, and more available than ever: The Guide is online.

It’s packed with answers to policy questions by candidates for president, Congress and the state legislature.

There is also a map of polling places, sample ballots, and absentee ballot information.

Click here for this great resource. Questions for the LWV? Call 203-293-7687.

The Westport Weston Chamber of Commerce has sponsored a great — and welcome — series of outdoor concerts this year.

The last of the season is next Thursday (October 15, Imperial Avenue parking lot). Part of the Chamber’s support for people with special needs, it’s a safe, fun, family-friendly evening called “Flashback to the ’80s and ’90s.” Band Central will play — and the very entertaining group is donating their time.

The event is a benefit for CLASP Homes. For half a century they’ve created and supported family environments for people with autism and intellectual disabilities.

Tailgating begins at 4:30 p.m. The show kicks off at 6. Click here for tickets ($150 per car; 70 car limit in the lot).

And finally … it’s a weekend in mid-October. Time to go pumpkin picking!

1 Comment

Posted in Entertainment, Environment, Organizations

Tagged CLASP Homes, flu shots, Westport League of Women Voters, Westport Weston Health District, Westport-Weston Chamber of Commerce

06ArtArt0 — Week 29 Gallery

Posted on October 10, 2020 | 1 comment

Fall flowers fill this week’s art gallery.

Seven months into our project, it’s still strong. We welcome all readers’ submissions.

All works should be inspired by, relevant to, or somehow, in some way, connected to our current world. Student art of all ages is especially welcome.

Coronavirus, social justice, politics, or just the beauty around us — have at it! Email dwoog@optonline.net, to share your work with the world.

“Autumn Leaves #2” (Amy Schneider)

Untitled (Spencer Gabor)

“October on Surf Road” (Diane Yormark)

“Chickens” (Cheryl Kritzer)

“Jumping for Joy” (Lawrence Weisman)

“Autumnal Hibiscus” (John Richers)

1 Comment

Posted in Arts

Tagged Amy Schneider, Lawrence Weisman

Wheels2U: New Train Station Service Rolls Out In Westport

Posted on October 10, 2020 | 6 comments

Since COVID struck, commuter traffic is down dramatically. Train station parking lots are nearly empty.

But some folks still need Metro-North. Not all of them can — or want to — drive to Saugatuck or Greens Farms. Westport Transit has been an alternative.

But the shuttle service has not worked for everyone. The schedule did not cover all peak trains. Not everyone lives close to the routes. Supply and demand were not always in sync.

On Monday, Westport Transit introduced “Wheels 2U Westport.” The new on-demand, door-to-train platform shuttle service will operate in nearly all of Westport, and provide rides to both the Saugatuck and Greens Farms stations. Riders can be picked up at home or their place of business.

Nearly all of Westport is included in the service area.

The new service will operate weekdays, from 5:45 to 9:45 a.m., and 4 to 8 p.m.

Commuters can schedule rides shortly before their desired pick-up time through an app (click here, or search for “Wheels2U” on the Apple or Google Play store). The $2 fare can be paid via the app or a Metro-North Uniticket (rail and bus pass).

Wheels2U Westport uses Norwalk Transit’s comfortable blue vehicles and white shuttle buses. It replaces Westport Transit’s 7 commuter shuttle routes, and the temporary on-demand commuter service begun in March during COVID.

Norwalk Transit introduced Wheels2U in that city in 2018.

For more information, click here or call 203-852-0000 (choose option 3).

6 Comments

Posted in Saugatuck, Transportation

Tagged Metro North, Norwalk Transit, Westport Transit

Pic Of The Day #1271

Posted on October 9, 2020 | 1 comment

October at Compo Beach (Photo/Karen Como)

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Posted in Beach, Pic of the Day

Tagged Compo Beach

Roundup: Sweet Photos, Trash, Pumpkins, More

Posted on October 9, 2020 | 2 comments

Westporters love Tom Kretsch’s photos. They love Saugatuck Sweets. And they love Al’s Angels.

So plan to stop by the ice cream shop patio on the river tomorrow (Saturday, October 10, 1 p.m. to 8 p.m.). Kretsch will display his evocative images — many of his home town.

A percentage of all sales benefits Al’s Angels, the nonprofit started by Saugatuck Sweets owner Al DiGuido to help families with children battling cancer, and families with food needs.

(Photo/Tom Kretsch)

Last weekend, 35 mothers and daughters from Westport’s National Charity League spent a cleaning Compo Beach. The effort supported NCL’s philanthropy partner, Save the Sound.

Volunteers removed over 45 pounds of garbage from the beach. They found PPE, plastic bags, straws and food wrappers, along with 235 cigarette butts, 160 bottle caps and 33 balloons. Data collected will help Save the Sound stop debris at its source.

A small bit of all the trash.

What’s new at the Senior Center?

Its first-ever pumpkin decorating contest. It’s October 30 (11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.).

Submissions will be judged on originality and scariness. Members can vote for their favorite pumpkins while picking up a drive-through lunch (chicken pot pie, salad, roll, cookie and Halloween treats) from staff members (in costumes).

Seniors can enjoy their meal while socially distancing in the parking lot. Prizes include a Halloween goodie bucket, and a gift card for a Senior Center luncheon.

Lunch is $8. The cost to enter the contest: free (and priceless).

ADL Connecticut’s 10th annual Walk Against Hate will look from the first 9. Though participants can’t join together physically, they’ll still send a powerful message.

Individuals, families, friends, colleagues and teammates are invited to get creative. They can walk wherever they want, from October 12-18. Registration is free, though fundraising is encouraged to help ADL fight anti-Semitism, racism and all forms of hate.

Fundraisers who give or get more than $50 get an ADL bandanna. The first 1,000 people to raise over $150 receive t-shirts.

ADL Connecticut has a strong Westport presence. Director Steve Ginsburg lives here; so does Walk Against Hate chair Claudia Cohen.

Jill Nadel chairs the outreach committee). Terry Bernard, Shelly Herst, Margie Jacobson, Ken Backman, Sara Weiner (co-chair of the education committee), Bret Weiner, Chuck Harris, Liz Kaner, Lynne Goldstein and John Kaufman are all on ADL’s state board. Many other Westporters serve in other capacities.

To register for or donate to the Walk Against Hate, click here.

Instead of a traditional luncheon, the American Cancer Society’s annual “Women Leading the Way to Wellness” event (Wednesday, November 18), is on Facebook Live.

There’s an option to buy a $125 “Wellness Box” to enhance the viewing experience. The boxes are valued at over $175, and include products from The Granola Bar, Performance Physical Therapy and West.

Click here for more information.

And finally … this is the birthday of John Lennon. He would have been — are you ready? — 80 years old today.

2 Comments

Posted in Environment, Local business, Organizations, Saugatuck

Tagged ADL Connecticut, Al's Angels, American Cancer Society, Center for Senior Activities, National Charity League, Saugatuck Sweets, Save the Sound, Tom Kretsch

Friday Flashback #213

Posted on October 9, 2020 | 9 comments

It’s been almost 51 years to the day. But no one who was there has forgotten the energy and power of that afternoon.

October 15, 1969 was a national event: a “Moratorium to End the War in Vietnam,” Demonstrations occurred all over the country.

The cover of Staples’ 1970 yearbook included photos from that fall’s Moratorium march, in the form of a peace sign.

Sparked by young people, Westport protested too.

Staples students streamed out of school. Led by Westport police, and joined by teachers and junior high students, more than 1,200 marched down North Avenue, turned right on Long Lots, then onto the Post Road all the way to the YMCA.

Massing in front of the old Bedford building — the only part of the Y at that time — a crowd that swelled to 2,000 heard speakers, including Iowa Senator Harold Hughes and Temple Israel’s Rabbi Byron T. Rubenstein, denounce the war and demand peace.

They wore black armbands and sported doves of peace. They carried American flags, and chanted “Hell no, we won’t go!” Counter-protesters drove alongside, cursing them. A few threw eggs.

(Photo/Patricia McMahon)

A remarkable video of that Westport moratorium captures the day.

Staples senior Guy Northrop shot 17 minutes of the march, with a Bauer Super 8 camera. Eleven minutes survive, and have been posted on YouTube.

The video shows with remarkable freshness the power of that protest. It also serves as a unique time capsule. Much of Westport has changed since then. But much has not.

9 Comments

Posted in Friday Flashback, History, Politics, religion, Staples HS

Tagged Rabbi Byron T. Rubenstein, Vietnam Moratorium

1st Selectman: Halloween Will Look Different This Year

Posted on October 9, 2020 | 1 comment

Politicians don’t often send Halloween messages. Then again, it’s not often that the holiday is celebrated amid a pandemic. First Selectman Jim Marpe says:

Halloween is a special holiday for many children and families. Due to COVID-19 however, Halloween in Westport will look different from prior years. I urge residents to be considerate and judicious in how they plan to partake in seasonal activities. It is incumbent upon all of us to insure a safe Halloween and upcoming holiday season.

Because the annual Halloween Parade and trick-or-treating in Town Hall has typically drawn increased foot traffic and crowding, the town regrets that it will not host the event this year.

Instead, the Parks and Recreation Department is sponsoring a Halloween House Decorating Contest. I encourage everyone – young and old – to demonstrate their creativity, and decorate their homes in the spirit of the season. For more information, click here.

The Westport Downtown Merchants Association, in collaboration with the town, is exploring a family-friendly Halloween event on October 25. More information will be available soon.

Please follow these guidelines from the Connecticut Department of Public Health and Centers for Disease Control (CDC) regarding Halloween:

The CDC considers trick-or-treating to be a high-risk activity that should be avoided. It recommends alternatives with lower risk activities, and small events that allow for reduced exposure and ease of contact tracing.

Consider candy hunts, small “trunk or treats” with friends and family, crafts, virtual contests and other outdoor activities where social distance can be achieved.

The CDC advises against wearing decorative masks over surgical masks. This year consider a costume that does not require a decorative mask, so that a surgical or CDC-approved mask can be worn instead.

A perfect costume for 2020.

Connecticut entered Phase III of its reopening plan yesterday. Phase III continues to cap the number of attendees at all private indoor gatherings at 25. Trick-or-treating and gatherings at locations where Halloween has traditionally prompted increased crowds, either indoors or on town roadways such as Gault Avenue and the Compo Beach area, are strongly discouraged.

If you decide to participate in trick-or-treating on October 31, we recommend that it is done with increased precautions. Trick or treaters should be aware that if a home is darkened, it is likely not partaking in Halloween festivities and that decision should be respected. Limit the number of homes visited.

Town officials advise parents to not drop off children in certain neighborhoods. Instead, it is advisable to keep all trick-or-treaters in their own neighborhoods. We also request that residents not arrange for food trucks or other food, drink or entertainment that promotes gathering in neighborhoods.

In addition to Halloween, the CDC site also has guidance for the upcoming holiday season. Click here before making plans for your holidays.

1 Comment

Posted in Children, Local politics, Westport life

Tagged 1st Selectman Jim Marpe, Halloween 2020

Arrivederci, Joe Arcudi!

Posted on October 9, 2020 | 26 comments

Joe Arcudi was the only one of 7 siblings born at Norwalk Hospital.

Joe Arcudi

He was the youngest. His brothers and sisters were all born at home. “Home” was Saugatuck: the corner of Railroad Place and Charles Street. There’s a big, blotchy office building now. But in the mid-20th century, Joe’s family lived there — right next to his father’s butcher shop.

Joe’s parents’ goal was for all 7 children to graduate from college.

After Staples High School (Class of 1960), Joe headed to Fairfield University. His parents’ wish came true.

In 1973 he opened Arcudi’s restaurant. For the next 21 years — and again from 2009 to 2012 — his “square pizza” drew diners of all ages and stations to the small spot next to Carvel. (Today it’s Aux Delices.)

For many years he ran the Little League and Babe Ruth programs in town.

And — oh, yeah — from 1993 to ’97, Joe Arcudi was Westport’s 1st selectman.

He always thought he’d live in his hometown forever. But with his 5 children scattered all over the country, he’s moving on October 16.

That’s right: Joe Arcudi is moving from Westport.

And how about this? His new home will be Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

His son — and 3 of his 8 grandchildren — are there. He’ll be centrally located for all his kids, who are scattered around the country.

Including Joe’s daughter. She and her 12-year-old live here.

So don’t worry. Joe Arcudi will be back in Westport, every couple of months.