There’s one more plan for Long Lots Elementary School.
Sort of.
1st Selectwoman Jen Tooker began last night’s Long Lots School Building Committee meeting by announcing a new version of the controversial renovation project. The goal was to address objections raised previously by the Planning & Zoning Commission, to a baseball diamond at the location of the current Westport Community Gardens.
A “multipurpose field” would be constructed there instead. The garden would be relocated somewhere else, on the Hyde Lane property.
There was no drawing to accompany the concept.
The LLSBC then held a work session. Microphones were either off or insufficient, making it difficult to hear.
Residents Jennifer Johnson and John Suggs both complained that the meeting was neither livestreamed nor recorded.
The newest plan — with, perhaps, a drawing — may be presented to the P&Z at its January 22 meeting.
Long Lots Elementary School
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For over 90 years, the Westport Country Playhouse has attracted Big Names.
Next up: Audra McDonald.
The singer/actor — winner of a record-breaking 6 Tony Awards (plus 2 Grammys and an Emmy); National Medal of Arts recipient, and one of Time’s 100 Most Influential People — takes the stage on Saturday, February 10 (7 p.m.).
Click here for tickets, and more information.
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The Jewish Federation of Greater Fairfield County is sponsoring a solidarity gathering on Sunday. It marks 100 days of captivity for dozens of hostages taken by Hamas during their October 7 terrorist attack on Israel.
Sunday’s event — called “Bring Them Home Now” — is at 1 p.m. Click here to register, and receive location details.
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In her last issue as editor of Westport Lifestyle, Robin Moyer Chung writes about Henry Putnam. The Staples High School student is a non-verbal 18-year-old with cerebral palsy. As with other classmates with disabilities, he participates in an internship that will help him get a job after graduation.
Click here to read the story. It begins on page 42.
Henry Putnam (Photo courtesy of Westport Lifestyle Magazine)
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Fresh off a national championship, Jake Thaw has entered the transfer portal.
The University of Michigan punt return specialist is a senior, after graduating from Staples High School in 2020. However, he has 3 years of eligibility remaining, after walking on for the Wolverines.
The Detroit Free Press writes: “Thaw, 6-1 and 192 pounds played in 15 games on special teams as a senior this season. He may now be most known for his muffed punt near the goal line against Alabama in the final minute of the Rose Bowl, though it should be highlighted he was able to recover the loose ball and avert disaster.
He had 11 fair catches, and returned 16 punts for 111 yards the season.
A muffed punt with less than a minute to play in the semifinal almost cost UM a shot at the national title. Thaw was vilified on social media, but also praised for not giving up a safety.
He wrote: “For those that have kept unwavering support — thank you. And for those that have not, I understand. I made the biggest two mistakes of my life on the biggest stage, and I won’t ever forgive myself. I’ll always love and cherish @UMichFootball and this fanbase. Go Blue.” (Hat tip: Pete Wolgast)
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Westport artists Miggs Burroughs, Darcy Hicks, Dale Najarian and Tammy Winser — all of whom advocate for common sense guns laws — will show their work in a juried exhibit at Metro Art Studios in Bridgeport. “In Our Hands” explores many perspectives of gun culture in the US. All proceeds benefit Sandy Hook Promise and Street Safe Bridgeport.
The opening reception is January 21 (1 to 3 p.m.).
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Matthew Mandell paid a surprise visit yesterday to wish Westporters Dana Noorilly and Julie Mountain good luck with their new Upper West Side Granola Bar location.
Business was brisk, he said, in a beautiful spot.
Mandell is director of the Westport Weston Chamber of Commerce. “We support our members!” he notes.
Dana Noorilly, Matthew Mandell and Julie Mountain, at the New York Granola Bar.
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Neal Radding sends today’s “Westport … Naturally” image from Sherwood Island State Park, plus a George Costanza quote: “The sea was angry that day, my friends.”
(Photo/Neal Radding)
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And finally … on this date in 1969, the New York Jets of the American Football League defeated the NFL’s Baltimore Colts of the National Football League to win Super Bowl III (and the first championship game with that name). The 16-7 victory is one of the greatest upsets in sports history; the Jets were 19 1/2-point underdogs.
(The Jets and Sharks agree on one thing: Supporting “06880” is cool. Please click here to make a tax-deductible contribution. Thank you!)
