Riverside Avenue and Lincoln Street neighbors fought hard.
But on Monday 2 large trees — perhaps over 200 years old — at 125 Riverside Avenue were cut down. Hours later, the oak at 79 Riverside Avenue next to Eloise Ray Park was also removed.
A home will be built adjacent to the park, on the Saugatuck River at the foot of Lincoln Street.
Nearby resident Charles Tirreno spent the afternoon helping his mother re-home newborn baby squirrels, whose nest was removed along with the tree.
“This has been a grave loss of habitat for countless species of mammals, insects, critically endangered turtles and protected birds,” he wrote in an email to his Representative Town Meeting District 9 members.
He urged his representatives to closely monitor the situation, to ensure that stipulations voted on by the Planning & Zoning Commission are adhered to.
Scene after trees were removed, adjacent to Eloise A. Ray Park. (Photo/Charles Tirreno)
Asked to comment by “06880,” RTM member Jennifer Johnson said, “This is a terrible loss for our entire community. It is an in-our-face reminder of how little Westport is doing to protect our town’s limited open space.
“Across Westport we are bearing witness to the systematic loss of cherished natural resources. From the assault on Jesup Green to the wiping out of the Community Gardens, and now a proposed 35,000-square foot area of asphalt, steel and concrete in the middle of Longshore. What’s going to happen to that giant sycamore gracing Charles Street when the Hamlet plows through?
“Sadly, the redevelopment of the property on 125 Riverside is a perfect example of community-wide inaction. We have an open space fund. Did anyone ever try to purchase the site for open space?
“Unfortunately, we waited to blame the person who eventually came forward to redevelop the site. That’s too late. We now must confront the loss of more glorious trees, and the missed chance to add parkland to our riverfront.”
“Please do not take any more trees!” added RTM member Sal Liccione.
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Mitchells — the small mom-and-pop men’s store that has grown in nearly 70 years to include 8 of the leading luxury retail stores in the US — has just gotten bigger.
Stanley Korshak — the leading luxury retailer in Dallas — is joining the Mitchell Stores family.
In addition to Westport — where Mitchells is headquartered — the group includes Richards in Greenwich; Mitchells in Huntington, New York; Wilkes Bashford stores in San Francisco and Palo Alto, and 3 Marios stores in Seattle, Portland and Bridgeport, Oregon.
The Mitchells have been close personal friends with former owner Crawford Brock and his family for over 20 years. Stanley Korshak is a 32,000-square foot store Dallas’ Uptown neighborhood.
Most important, Mitchells says, the store “shares our family’s vision to bringing customers the most exquisite luxury fashions in the world, with unequaled personalized service.” In addition to the main store, Stanley Korshak has one of the top bridal salons in the country.
“Stanley Korshak is a jewel in Texas. We will do everything to continue to offer world-class products and services that are perfectly tailored to Dallas customers,” says Chris Mitchell. The 3rd generation owner will spend half his time in Dallas, working closely with Crawford.
Meanwhile, the 4th generation of Mitchells has begun working with the company.
Ed and Norma Mitchell — who founded that original men’s store in a former plumbing supply building at the corner of Post Road East and Compo Road North in 1958 (now M&T Bank) — would be very proud.
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Staples Players actors are as close to professional as you can get, without an Equity card.
When the curtain rises Friday for “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” — Players’ spring production — they’ll be joined by a couple of legit Broadway actors, like Kelli O’Hara and Chris Sarandon.
Former Staples principal John Dodig (who had a memorable role in Players’ “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying”) and former State Senator Will Haskell — a Player himself in his high school days — will be onstage too.
But so will a few definite non-actors, like First Selectwoman Jen Tooker, Principal Stafford Thomas, and Wrecker boys basketball coach Dave Goldshore.
Plus “06880”‘s own Dan Woog.
We’re all “guest spellers.” We have no idea what we’re in for. We’ll just go with the flow.
And we’ll be guided by the very talented Players themselves. They’ve prepared well, for schmoes like us.
They’ll lead. We’ll follow. And we hope that audiences will laugh with — not at — us.
The full guest cast:
Friday, March 7 (7 p.m.): First Selectwoman Jennifer Tooker, Principal Stafford Thomas, “06880”‘s Dan Woog, Bedford Acting Group ‘s Ryan Smith.
Saturday, March 8 (2 p.m.): Actor Chris Sarandon, former State Senator Will Haskell and more.
Saturday, March 8 (7 p.m.): Coach Dave Goldshore and more.
Sunday, March 9 (2 p.m.): Tony Award winner Kelli O’Hara, former Staples principal John Dodig, Staples choral director Lauren Pine and more.
Click here for tickets, and more information.
“25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” (Photo/Kerry Long)
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The Read to Grow Bookmobile arrives in Westport tomorrow (Thursday, March 6, 3 to 5 p.m., Compo Beach cannons).
Youngsters can climb aboard the bookmobile (not the cannons) to pick out a free book. The selection includes new board books, picture books and chapter books, for youngsters birth to age 7.
Kids LOVE climbing aboard to pick out a free book to take home! Their shelves are packed with new board books, picture books, and chapter books for kids birth to age 7—so there’s something for everyone!
To learn more about Read to Grow, click here.
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The Animal Awareness Night scheduled for this evening (Wednesday, March 5) has been postponed. The new date is March 19 (7 p.m., police station classroom).
Topics include wildlife (with officer Peter Reid), pet adoption (with Westport Animal Shelter Advocates’ Julie Loparo), and dog licensing guidelines. The event is free.
Westport Animal Control officer Peter Reid is a featured speaker at Wednesday’s Animal Awareness Night.
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Sure, you can teach your kids how to decorate cookie cakes.
But on March 25 (7:30 p.m., The Blondinit restaurant), Jess Leventhal will teach adults how to create “a stunning 2-layer mini cookie cake that feeds 6-8 people, and is almost too beautiful to eat.”
The $125 ticket a choice of signature cocktail, and light fare by The Blondinit. Click here for details and registration.
Blondinit cookie cake.
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Johanna Keyser Rossi spotted today’s “Westport … Naturally” subject — a juvenile mute swan — swimming alone in the Saugatuck River, near Riverside Park.
(Photo/Johanna Keyser Rossi)
That’s such a rare sight in Westport. No, not a swan. I mean a young one, playing without an adult nearby.
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And finally … in honor of Staples Players’ production of “25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee’ (story above):
(Contributing to “06880” is as easy as … well, you know. Just click here. That’s it! Thank you!)
