Tag Archives: Bryan Bierman

Roundup: P&Z Debate, Joseph Oyebog Service, Sarah Jessica Parker? …

Posted on September 5, 2025 | 1 comment

The third time will be the charm.

The technical issues that bedeviled our first 2 Instagram Live interviews with 1st selectman candidate David Rosenwaks have been solved.

David and I will be live today (Friday), at 4 p.m. You can catch us @06880danwoog.com. We welcome your questions — and thank you for your patience!

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The Planning and Zoning Commission has a full agenda this Monday (September 8, 6 p.m., Zoom).

Commissioners will discuss, and potentially vote on, a resolution for a future exectuve session to discuss the ROAN Ventures lawsuit against them, regarding the Hamlet at Saugatuck project.

The public notice also includes details about that executive session, including:

  • No votes will be taken in the executive session.
  • The commission may invite other interested persons to present testimony or opinion in future executive sessions relating to this litigation.
  • If a proposed settlement of the pending litigation is reached, a public meeting will be held to discuss the settlement, with public comment allowed. The P&Z will then discuss the settlement and exercise its best judgment in voting on the proposed settlement. The proposed settlement shall be posted on the town website at least three days prior to this public meeting.
  • If the P&Z approves the proposed settlement, it will be submitted to Superior Court for an approval hearing.

A work session will follow that item. It includes pre-application discussion of a draft text change to allow for an 8-unit residential development at 6 East Main Street. The property is between the Connecticut Humane Society and the Whitney Glen condominiums, just off Post Road East.

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A back-to-school food drive to benefit Homes with Hope is set for tomorrow (Saturday), from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., at Stop & Shop.

Most-needed items include:

  • Rice
  • Pasta and pasta sauce
  • Mac ‘n’ cheese
  • Canned tuna, soup, veggies, beans, fruit
  • Cold cereal and oatmeal
  • Peanut butter and jelly
  • Personal hygiene items: shampoo, deodorant, toothpaste
  • Household items: dish soap, laundry detergent (small), cleaning supplies, toilet paper.

The evnet is co-sponsored by the Westport Police Department, Sunrise Rotary Club and CTBites.

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The life of Joseph Oyebog will be celebrated on Sunday, September 14 (1 p.m., Sacred Heart University Community Theatre, Fairfield).

The popular local tennis instructor, whose tennis academy in his native Cameroon changed the lives of thousands of youngsters, and was aided by his many friends in the Westport area — died in May. He was 53 years old.

Joseph Oyebog, at his Cameroon Tennis Academy.

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You never know what you’ll see downtown.

Pam Docters happened upon this photo shoot, at the rainbow crosswalk on Jesup Road.

(Photo/Pam Docters)

She’s not sure what was going on.

But, she notes, Sarah Jessica Parker was on the magazine cover. Pam thinks —  baed on the skirt and wig — that it’s a creation of the “Sex and the City” introduction.

Perhaps. But we do know this: On Wednesday (September 10), SJP will be the special guest, at “Booked for the Evening.”

That’s the signature fundraiser for the Westport Library — just a few steps away from the other Sarah Jessica Parker.

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A dozen or so parking spaces at the rear of the Soundview lot at Compo Beach have been blocked off, by a temporary fence.

It will serve as a staging area, for work being done on the tidal gates and wooden bridges at Sherwood Mill Pond, leading to Compo Cove.

Heavy equipment has already arrived. The work will be completed by Memorial Day, 2026 — just in time for the parking lot to be crowded again.

(Photo copyright/DinkinESH Fotografix)

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Speaking of fencing (though of a very different kind):

Youngsters are invited to enjoy the sport this fall.

Westport Continuing Education is offering fencing for middle schoolers (beginners and intermediate). There’s also a first-ever elementary school beginners’ fencing class.

Click here for details, and more information. For Instagram and Facebook, follow @fenceinWestport.  

Staples High School has a fencing team. Now younger students can learn the sport too.

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Congratulations to Bryan Bierman!

Temple Israel’s executive director will be awarded the A.O. Samuels Young Leadership Award, by the Jewish Federation of Greater Fairfield County.

The September 17 event in Fairfield includes cocktails, dinner, and guest speaker Julie Platt. The past chair of the Jewish Federations of North America will offer insights drawn from her leadership at the highest levels of the Jewish community.

Bryan Bierman

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We’re not sure how this happened. But around 11 p.m. on Wednesday night, this driver landed on top of the Cribari Bridge barrier.

(Photo/Randy Christophersen)

All 4 wheels were off the ground.

Sure, Jeeps are supposed to go anywhere. But still …

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Yesterday’s Roundup noted that local organizations — including Emergency Medical Services, the Community Emergency Response Team, American Red Crsos, Westport Astronomical Society’s amateur radio station and the Aspetuck Health District — were preparing for a September 16 large-scale mass casualty drill at Sherwood Island State Park.

The event has been postponed until spring.

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Our “Westport … Naturally” feature gets plenty of deer photos.

But few are as stunning as this shot of 2 bucks, in wetlands next to John Fanuko’s Greens Farms home.

(Photo/John Fanuko)

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And finally … following up on our 2 “fencing” stories above:

(As we prepare for a full fall — starting with tomorrow’s Slice of Saugatuck — remember that “06880” will cover them all. But we can’t do it without your support. Please click here to help.  Thanks!)

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March For Israel: Westporters Report From DC

Posted on November 15, 2023 | 4 comments

Nothing could deter dozens of Westporters, who gathered before dawn yesterday morning at The Conservative Synagogue.

They waited for 2 buses to take them to Washington, for a nationwide March for Israel.

Then they waited … and waited … but the buses never came.

Undaunted, they decided to drive. They figured out drivers, loaded their belongings, and — in 38 cars — headed south.

They arrived a few hours later. Danielle Dobin reports:

“The crowd of almost 300,000 fell completely silent as the families of hostages kidnapped by Hamas shared their painful experiences. Everyone present recommitted to bringing the hostages home. I hope people will take the time to listen to the powerful remarks of Rachel Goldberg, the mother of someone abducted from the music festival.

“An invading army of terrorists purposefully kidnapped people from their homes, from a concert, babies from their cribs … and some Americans are cheering this or sanitizing it with words like ‘justified resistance’ is hard to fathom. Standing up to oppose this is why we needed to drop everything to be present yesterday.

“This was a profoundly patriotic crowd. American flags were everywhere — woven into people’s hair, printed on shirts and hats, worn as capes, waving on flagpoles. There were also many, many Israeli flags.

“Attendees proudly showed their faces. No one was masked.

“Jews, Christians and Muslims marched. Some folks were ardent supporters of Netanyahu and others were vocal detractors. Republicans and Democrats spoke. Everyone put aside their differences to demand the release of the hostages, declare their solidarity with the state of Israel, and to decry the proliferation of antisemitism on college campuses.

“My brother and I met multiple large groups of non-Jewish Israel supporters from the Midwest and beyond who flew in just for the demonstration. Their expressions in the photo below capture their energy.

“The buses scheduled to bring us gathered at the Conservative Synagogue failed to show up. We don’t know if this was a result of incompetence by the bus company, or if it can be attributed to antisemitism. We mostly piled into cars and drove down in big groups. There was a vibrant contingent of Westporters present, from school-aged children to grandparents.”

Danielle Dobin (2nd from left), and friends.

Danielle Dobin also sent this photo, from the Metro …

(Photo/Danielle Dobin)

… while (below, from left) Rabbi Zach Plesent, Adam Blau and Bryan Bierman of Temple Israel gathered …

… and Arthur Hayes added this ,,,

From left: Arthur and Lisa Hayes with their son James, a Staples High School freshman. (Photo/Arthur Hayes)

,,, and Temple Israel executive director Bryan Bierman sent this:

(Photo/Bryan Bierman)

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FBI Training Supports Temple Israel

Posted on November 1, 2023 | 3 comments

As executive director of Temple Israel, Bryan Bierman is responsible for many things: human resources, building management, the cemetery.

But he’s also in charge of something colleagues at Christian churches never worry about: security.

With threats to synagogues increasing across the nation — particularly after Hamas’ terrorist attack on Israel — the Westport resident is in constant contact with Westport and State Police, and other law enforcement agencies.

Bierman is impressed with all of them, and values their close working relationships. But a recent experience with the FBI has opened his eyes to the behind-the-scenes work of keeping Temple Israel — and our town, state and nation — safe.

Now, he’s more impressed than ever.

Bryan Bierman, at FBI headquarters. (Photo courtesy of Frank Rosen)

Earlier this year, congregant Frank Rosen told Bierman about the FBI Citizens Academy. The 8-week program gives business, community and religious leaders an inside look at the federal law enforcement organization.

Throughout the spring, Bierman attended classes at the New Haven field office. He was surprised to learn about programs like the FBI’s statewide task force on gang violence, and the daily work the public never hears about but that keep Connecticut safe.

He made valuable partnerships with divisions like the Bomb Squad. Bierman invited members to Temple Israel. They toured the building, just in case they ever need to be there.

At the Citizens Academy, Bierman learned of an even more elite program. Held at FBI headquarters in Washington, and their training center near Quantico, Virginia, it offers an inside, in-depth look at both the agency, and its agents.

He applied, accepted, and last month joined a group of 26 Citizens Academy graduates from both Connecticut and New Orleans at the facility.

FBI Citizens Academy. Bryan Bierman is in the back, 2nd from left.

“It’s hard to put the experience into words,” Bierman says.

They heard from the number two agent in charge of negotiations with Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, after the Boston Marathon bombing. He described the intense experience, including the intense gun battle.

The next day, the group saw the actual boat Tsarnaev had hidden in.

The boat in which Boston Marathon Dzhokhar Tsarnaev was captured by the FBI. (Photo courtesy of Frank Rosen)

Learning what the FBI thought and did during those difficult days was important, Bierman says.

The group also toured Hogan’s Alley — the “mock town” with banks, bars, stores, hotels, movie theaters and more, that agents and hostage rescue teams use to prepare for a variety of scenarios.

They learned that a trainee once did not notice a fake door, and was “shot.”

Later, during an actual investigation, he found an actual fake door — a direct result of his training.

In addition, the group viewed the real and digital models — used for future training, and in court — that woodworking and engineering experts make following investigations. One — showing the Capitol during the January 6 insurrection — has been used extensively by prosecutors.

Of particular interest to Bierman: the model used after the Tree of Life synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh.

“There’s a lot more to the FBI than kicking down doors,” Bierman notes. “So much goes on that people don’t know about.”

The visit to Quantico and Washington reinforced for Bierman the value of having “strong leadership to keep us safe.”

He will continue to work with the FBI — and other partners — to ensure the security of Temple Israel.

Temple Israel.

As for the Connecticut field office, he says, “It’s not massive. But everyone there loves the state. They look out for everyone. They’re keeping us safe from threats most of us don’t even know exist.”

And, he notes, “The FBI says Westport law enforcement is great to work. As a Westport resident, and for Temple Israel, that’s a win for everyone.”

(The New Haven FBI Citizens Academy is always looking for applicants. To learn more, or for questions, contact Bryan Bierman: bbierman@tiwestport.org.)

(Every day, “06880” covers the people, places, institutions, history and life of Westport. If you appreciate our work, please click here to support this hyper-local blog. Thank you!)

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