The other day I received a panicked text from a dear friend, who was on her iPad on Metro-North.
She had rushed onto a train to New York after hearing that her son was hospitalized with a life-threatening allergic reaction. In her rush, she dropped her iPhone somewhere at the Saugatuck station.
I was in Norwalk, but immediately headed back to collect the phone.
I called it, in case a Good Samaritan was nearby.
A man answered. His name was Ken. He asked if I’d left my phone at the station.
I explained the situation. While I stayed on, Ken walked across the street and asked if someone at Harvest could hold the phone for me.
Johnny, the manager at Harvest, joined the call and assured me he’d keep the phone safe. Here’s a photo of Johnny with the phone, which he indeed kept safe.
My friend was never able to properly thank Ken for his help, as I did not get his last name. I hope he reads “06880.”
We are both so appreciative of how Ken and Johnny stepped up to help, during a very stressful situation. Having her phone lost or stolen would have made a challenging day far worse.
(Unsung Hero is a weekly “06880” feature. To nominate a hero, email 06880blog@gmail.com. To support our work, please click here. Thank you!)
The streetscape of Railroad Place is quite interesting.
It’s hard to see from a distance. There’s not much room across the narrow street. And those who can look up are usually too busy peering down the tracks, waiting for a train.
Or hustling off one, intent on getting wherever they’re going.
But if you do glance up, you’ll see some windows above Harvest restaurant. The shutters bear the letter “H.” (Click here to see.)
That was the subject of last week’s Photo Challenge. Janice Strizever, David Sampson and Andrew Colabella look up enough on Railroad Place to know last week’s answer.
Do you know this week’s challenge? If you recognize it, click “Comments” below.
(Photo/Johanna Rossi Keyser)
(If you enjoy our weekly Photo Challenge, please click here to support “06880” with a tax-deductible donation. Thank you!)
Today’s meeting of the Planning & Zoning Commission’s Zoning Regulation Revision/Sustainability Subcommittee (Wednesday, July 26, noon) opens with an interesting agenda item.
“Presentation of Affordable Housing Concept for the Adaptive ReUse of Existing Residential Structures at Baron’s South” is part of the P&Z’s 5-year affordability plan.
The subcommittee will explore the possibility of using existing town-owned residential properties for affordable housing.
Though much of Baron’s South — the 22 acres of land between South Compo Road and Imperial Avenue — is hilly and wooded, it includes structures like “Golden Shadows,” the late Baron Walter Langer von Langendorff and his wife’s former home.
It was used most recently by the Westport Library to store books, but has largely been in a state of disrepair.
The owners of 6 Connecticut restaurants will pay over 100 workers more than $858,000 in back wages and damages.
One is in Westport: Harvest.
A US Department of Labor investigation found that employers violated overtime and record-keeping regulations, including compensating managers from tip pools for regular employees; failing to pay employees for all hours worked, and not paying employees 1 1/2 times regular pay for working over 40 hours a week.
Kleber Siguenza was cited as having an ownership interest in all 6 restaurants. He was in the news earlier this week when a court ruled in his favor, as the rightful co-owner of Weston’s Cobbs Mill Inn. (Hat tips: Allan Siegert, Karen Jennings)
Outdoor dining at Harvest restaurant, on Railroad Place.
The historic theater announced yesterday that they are just $200,000 short of their $2 million “Save Your Playhouse” goal. The campaign ends Monday, July 31.
Over 300 donors have contributed or pledged $1.8 million. The aim is to transform the 92-year=old Playhouse into a center for a wide array of performances that appeal to a broader audience, while continuing to produce high-quality theater.
“While there’s a deep respect for the Playhouse history and what it is today, there’s also an eagerness for growth, change, and the next chapter,” says board chair Athena Adamson.
“We are listening; we care about what the audience wants to see on the Playhouse stage. In turn, the audience is stepping up to offer their support.”
Beginning in 2024, the Playhouse will be a performing arts center from January through August. Presentations will include single night events like cabaret, comedy, music, play readings and speakers. From September 2024 through March 2025 the WCP will mount 3 theatrical productions.
“The community is changing and we must adapt our programming,” Adamson says. “We won’t lose our theatergoers; we simply are looking to increase our audience by offering more entertainment options. Our board of trustees wants the Playhouse to be here for the entire community, with performances on stage to appeal to everyone.
The Westport Country Playhouse is just $200,000 shy of its $2 million fundraising goal.
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Sustainable Westport is our town’s environmental eyes and ears.
The other day, they noticed — and gave a shout-out to — the Police Department’s use of electric vehicles.
They’ve added 2 new EVs to their fleet — an all-terrain utility vehicle and an electric motorcycle — and expect a third Tesla patrol car this summer.
Earlier, the WPD purchased 7 plug-in vehicles: 2 Tesla patrol cars (Models 3 and Y), a Toyota Prius Prime plug-in hybrid, a Honda Clarity PHEV, a BMW i3 battery electric vehicle, and a Ford Interceptor conventional hybrid patrol car.
The new all-terrain utility vehicle is powered by 6 12-volt batteries, lasting 8-12 hours. Though it looks like a golf cart, the vehicle can drive across terrains (including sand) and includes a winch for heavy-duty applications. It is used often at Compo Beach and Winslow Park.
The Zero electric motorcycle will be used for parking and traffic enforcement. It contains a 17.3 kWh battery, and has a range of 183 miles in the city and 85 miles on the highway.
In 2019, Westport Police purchased their first electric patrol vehicle, a Tesla Model 3, for $52,000. Over a 4-years it is projected to save the town $50,000.
Tesla vehicles also are expected to provide a longer service life: 6 years is the projection compared to 4 of Ford Explorers. The WPD hopes to actually get 8 years.
“Kudos to the Westport Police for continuing to be a leader amongst police departments and municipalities nationwide,” Sustainable Westport says.
The Police Department’s Tesla Model Y, and all-terrain utility vehicle.
Westport’s sister city with Lyman, Ukraine began with a suggestion from our friends in Marigny, France — our much longer-established other sister city.
That relationship began right after World War II. Bonds tightened as we helped the Normandy town recover. Marigny has never forgotten Westport.
When we were planning LymanAID — the celebration/fundraiser earlier this month, at the Ukrainian American Club — our Marigny amis sent gifts for a raffle: 3 gorgeous books, sweatshirts and calvados.
One of those books has been donated to the Westport Library. “601 Communes” includes a history and photos of Marigny. It’s accompanied by a letter — in French and English — from author René Gautier.
Rachel Suggs is a rising junior at the University of Chicago. The 2021 Staples High School graduate is double majoring in law, letters and society, and Middle Eastern languages and civilizations.
Last summer and this, she’s internet at the Jerusalem law firm Decker, Pex, Ofir & Co., which specializes in immigration law.
She’s seen the current political upheaval up front. She wrote this piece for The Times of Israel: “Israel Must Ratify a Constitution, Protests Prove” (click here to read).
Robin Clark has been selected for another term as Westport Woman’s Club president.
Under Robin’s leadership this year, the WWC awarded over $100,000 in community service grants, scholarships, and food supplies to those in need.
She has personally raised tens of thousands of dollars for food drives, collected and shopped for food donations, and volunteered countless hours helping others.
Robin gives much of the credit for her community work to her employer, Westport National Bank, where she is vice president and branch manager. The bank is a strong supporter of employee volunteer initiatives.
Today marks the middle of Restaurant Week. Rowene Weems had “a lovely dinner outside on a beautiful night at Harvest. The atmosphere was magical, with lights and a full moon. There is also something cool about being next to the train station.”
For more on the Westport Weston Chamber of Commerce event, click here.
Sure, Westport is filled with families with school-age children. They may not all have come from Manhattan or Brooklyn, though most did.
But they’re not the only Westporters. Many more people grew up here, stayed or returned, and still live here even after their own kids have grown.
Those folks remember another group of Westporters: the parents of the boys and girls they knew back then. Those men and women are now in their late 80s and 90s.
They too still live here. But many of their sons and daughters do not.
One 60-something resident looks up to that “Greatest Generation.” (And they earned the title not just for helping win World War II. After moving here, they poured their energy and talents into making Westport a great place for us to grow up in too.)
That man — who asked for anonymity — has taken it upon himself to invite some of those older Westporters out for dinner.
They often live alone. Most no longer drive.
He and his wife always pick them up. They head to Pane e Bene, Horizon, Rizzuto’s, Rive Bistro — nice, friendly places with good food.
They have a leisurely meal. They reminisce about old Westport, discuss current events (locally and around the globe). They talk about their own kids (who, in the case of the older folks, are the host’s contemporaries).
“I remember the first time I made enough money to take my parents out to dinner,” the man says.
“It was a rite of passage — and a not insignificant way to say ‘thanks’ at that young time in my career.” Both his parents have since died.
Now he enjoys spending quality time with his parents’ old friends and acquaintances.
“It’s so much fun. I’ve known these people all my life. They were the mentors of my youth.”
He adds, “They are as sharp as ever! And the battles we have over paying the bill are hilarious!”
The opening of Harvest restaurant — in the former Mario’s space — has brought renewed attention to Railroad Place.
It’s also reminded people of the long-rumored Railroad Place project — a redevelopment plan for a larger area that shares the name of the small but significant street on the westbound side of the railroad station.
With Saugatuck Center completed and thriving — Riverside Avenue is now a hot spot filled with new restaurants, a butcher shop, gourmet food store, sweet shop, paddle rental store, 27 apartments and more — Westporters have waited for the next phase.
It’s unrelated — who’s-who-wise — to the Gault family’s Saugatuck Center work. But it’s been rumored for years, as a natural next step.
Negotiations have proceeded, in fits and starts, since 2011. In 2012, LandTech — the highly regarded engineering and planning firm headquartered on Riverside Avenue — drew up an RFP for the families who have owned the property for nearly 100 years, to seek developers.
It involved all the land bordered by Railroad Place, Charles Street and Riverside Avenue, as well as the private parking lot adjacent to Luciano Park.
All the land, that is, except the Mario’s/Harvest building, and the grim, out-of-character office building at 21 Charles Street. They have their own owners. All the rest of the property in the plan is owned by 2 families.
An aerial view of the proposed Railroad Place development. Charles Street (including the office building) is at left; the train tracks run diagonally across the top. Luciano Park is at the bottom. Click on or hover over to enlarge.
LandTech’s proposal — in collaboration with Westport architect Peter Wormser — envisions an entirely new look for the 3-acre space.
Steps next to Harvest will lead to a bluestone plaza, similar to the one between the Whelk and Saugatuck Sweets that draws musicians, sunbathers and people-watchers.
A view from the westbound train platform across Railroad Place.
Surrounding the plaza will be a mix of retail stores and apartments. There’s room for a small movie theater and boutique hotel.
A closeup of the rendering above. Mario’s is, of course, now Harvest restaurant.
Nearby, planners envision an enclosed, year-round green market.
Two levels of underground parking would accommodate 480 cars.
It’s not a done deal, of course. The 4-story development would need a zone change, to embrace Transit-Oriented Development (programs to link transportation centers with surrounding neighborhoods). The floor area ration would require a text amendment.
The view across Riverside Avenue, from Tutti’s. The buildings in the artist’s rendering would replace the current cleaners and adjacent buildings. The Charles Street office building is on the far right.
The project has moved very slowly, in part because of land valuation questions. No developer has yet signed on.
But Railroad Place — the property — is an unpolished gem, waiting to shine. Bordered by existing businesses and a train station — with a major highway nearby — it’s ripe for development.
Stores and shops in the proposed Railroad Place development.
Exciting plans have been available for several years. They’ve been shopped around, creating excitement among everyone who’s seen them.
The 2 families that own most of Railroad Place have not yet agreed on the next steps. When — that is, if — they do, the future of one of Westport’s most intriguing, often-underutilized sections of town could be very, very cool.
Last April, Mario’s closed. In June, “0688o” reported that Harvest — the restaurant taking its place, with “custom cuisine from farm to fork” — would open in September.
Here was the scene Friday:
Workers said it will open by the end of the month.
That’s a bit later than promised.
But loooong before the completion of the Merritt Parkway North Avenue bridge.
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