Tag Archives: I-95 Exit 18

Roundup: ABC Dream Event, DOT Work, Men’s Mental Health …

Posted on April 29, 2024 | 3 comments

This is non-profit gala season.

Nearly every night, local organizations host fundraisers. There’s catered food and auctions. Special guests offer inspiring speeches.

All are worthwhile. The amount of good works, and the number of generous Westporters, is impressive.

Even so, A Better Chance of Westport‘s Dream Event stands out.

The 22-year-old program — which brings academically gifted and highly motivated young men of color to Westport, where they live together and attend Staples High School — is one of our town’s shining jewels.

The 2023-24 ABC scholars.

The Dream Event is a chance not only to raise much-needed funds, but to celebrate ABC’s scholars, their families, and the community volunteers who make the program run, as host parents, drivers, tutors and more.

As always, Saturday’s event at the Westport Library was a powerful demonstration of the impact A Better Chance has on these wonderfully dynamic, creative and brilliant young men.

It is an equally powerful demonstration of what Westport gains from them.

The speeches by president Eric Freeman, encee Jay Norris, host parents and others were ringing endorsements of ABC.

A Better Chance of Westport president Eric Freeman introduces emcee Jay Norris (photo on the large screen).

But the words from the scholars themselves were especially noteworthy.

2016 Staples alum Christopher Morales described his path in the world since graduating from Cornell University.

Christopher Morales

Staples senior Nile Jean spoke with insight, warmth and humor about his journey from an ambivalent 9th grader to a soon-t0-be-graduate, who made the rocky adjustment, then thrived, in a very different town and school.

Nile Jean

Nile’s mother’s Nedra Stewart’s loving, passionate words brought the crowd to tears. From an early age, she wanted the program for her son (“I stalked ABC,” she said). Her pride in him was evident.

Nile Jean’s mother, Nedra Stewart. (All photos/Jerri Graham Photography)

And the large crowd was proud that she had entrusted her son to ABC, and to our community.

We will watch him soar, as so many other ABC alumni have done. We are a better community for having them in our midst.

(To learn more about A Better Chance of Westport — including how to volunteer and offer support — click here.)

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The other day, “06880” noted the pavement-grading activity to the right of the northbound entrance at I-95 Exit 18.

The property near the Sherwood Island Connector is a “reuse stockpile area.” It is a hub for storing dirt and gravel salvaged from the Norwalk WALK railroad bridge site, allowing the contractor to minimize waste and disposal.

Alert and environmentally conscious reader Scott Smith adds: “It’s amazing that the town can spend 10 years or more debating new parking downtown or elsewhere, but the state can throw down a couple of acres of asphalt just like that.”

He is also amazed by “how much land in Westport is heavily used by the state Department of Transptoration and Metro-North, from the takeover of the commuter parking lot further down the Connector to all the action at exit 17.

“It looks like we’ll be a construction zone for years more.”

“Reuse stockpile area” at I-95 Exit 18 northbound. (Photo/Scott Smith)

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Westport’s newest outdoor sculpture will be dedicated May 4 (4 p.m.).

The public is invited to Pasacreta Park (opposite Saugatuck Elementary School) for a ceremony honoring artist Niki Ketchman, and “Passage.”

The work by the longtime Westport resident is a joint initiative with the Westport Arts Advisory Committee, Parks & Recreation Department and Commission, Department of Public Works and the Westport Permanent Art Collections.

“Passage” is on loan for 5 years.

Artist Niki Ketchman (umbrella) supervises the installation of “Passage.”

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May is Mental Health Month.

TAP Strength invites men — and the people who love them — to a holistic discussion of treatment options.

“Let’s Talk About Men’s Mental Health” (May 15, 6 to 7 p.m., 180 Post Road East) features Jennifer Boyd PA and TAP Strength owner Dr. EJ Zebro.

A $25 donation to benefit the National Alliance on Mental Health is suggested.

To RSVP, email info@tapstrength.com.

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The Staples Jazz Ensemble headlines “A Night of Jazz.” The May 13 (7 p.m., Westport Library) event features music by Benny Carter, Frank Foster, Dizy Gillespie, Rick Hirsch and Thad Jones — with a world premiere by Dr. Kyle Saulnier.

The free event is part of the Y’s Men of Westport and Weston’s monthly jazz series.

Dizzy Gillespie comes to the Westport Library May 13. Well, the Staples High School Jazz Ensemble will play his music, anyway.

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Sorelle Gallery’s new floral exhibition is “Awakening.” The opening reception is May 11 (3 to 5 p.m.).

Attendees can explore floral artwork by Kay Flierl, Christine Averill-Green, Linda Bigness, Juniper Briggs, Kelly Rossetti and others; watch a frosting piping demo, and taste cake samples by Harborview Cakes; see a bouquet-building demo and shop flower arrangements by New Petal Flower Market, and enjoy light refreshments (including a specialty floral cocktail).

A percentage of proceeds from partnering organizations and artwork sales will be donated to Earthplace. Click here for more details on the exhibition.

“Awakening,” at Sorelle Gallery.

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Carl Addison Swanson’s latest “Husk McCormick” series novel — “Sex Trafficking” — is now available on Kindle.

Longtime Westporter and Staples High School graduate Swanson is the best-selling author of 58 novels.

This one focuses on a modern horror: young women who are kidnapped and placed in “modern slavery” for prostitution and other acts.

Swanson’s protagonist Hush McCormick rushes to rescue a Marine buddy’s daughter, who falls victim to a cartel.

Click here to order. Click here for Carl Addison Swanson’s website.

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Speaking of books: The next Westport Book Shop’s Short Story Book Club meeting is May 23 (6 to 7:30 p.m.).

Attendees will discuss 2 selections from Tim O’Brien’s 1990 “The Things They Carried,” his part fiction, part memoir collection of stories about the Vietnam War.

The selections are “On The Rainy River” and “Speaking of Courage.”

Registration is required, by phone (203-349-5141) or email (bookshop@westportbooksaleventures.org.)

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What could be more natural than a full moon?

Lauren Rothstein captured this once-a-month shot for “Westport … Naturally” a few days ago, at Saugatuck Shores’ Covlee Beach. (Hat tip: Patti Brill)

(Photo/Lauren Rothstein)

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And finally … the upcoming Staples Jazz Ensemble’s concert (story above) brings to mind the great Dizzy Gillespie:

(“06880” kicks off another week of Roundups — and much more. If you enjoy our work, please support us with a tax-deductible contribution. Just click here. Thank you!)

3 Comments

Posted in Arts, Library, Local business, Staples HS

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New Exit Numbers May Drive Us Crazy

Posted on July 31, 2022 | 14 comments

Since the 1950s — through name changes (Connecticut Turnpike  to Thruway to I-95), changes in speed limits and the removal of tolls — 2 things remained constant: Exit 17 was in Saugatuck, Exit 18 in Greens Farms.

For even longer — as Merritt Parkway signs changed from wood to metal, and actual arrows were replaced by symbolic ones — Westporters have known  2 truths: Exit 41 was near Wilton, Exit 42 by Weston.

As we’ve seen in many other areas of life, things are not always what they seem. There can be more than one “truth.”

Federal regulations mandate changes, for uniformity and emergency response reasons. With exits marked by miles from a standardized point — in these cases, Mile 0.0 at the New York state border — rather than simple numerical order,* I-95 exit 17 could  become Exit 18. The current Exit 18 would be Exit 20.

Exit 27 will now be Exit 1.

More drastically, Merritt Parkway Exit 41 would be renumbered Exit 21. Exit 42 would turn into Exit 22.

The dramatic — and so far, unreported — information comes from Neil Brickley. The 1971 Staples High School graduate is a civil engineer. His Wethersfield firm, Close, Jensen & Miller, works closely with the state Department of Transportation.

The mileage calculations are Brickley’s. They’re not yet official.

He notes that similar renumbering on limited access highways has already taken place in both eastern Connecticut, and the Middletown area.

The new Exit 18.

However, there’s good news for traditionalists. The Merritt Parkway project will not begin until 2025. I-95 will not be renumbered until 2029.

And once they’re done, signs with both the new and old numbers will remain for at least 2 years.

(Want to knw more? Click here, for a state DOT Frequently Asked Questions page.)

*There is no Merritt Parkway Exit 43 in Fairfield/ Legend has it that Greenfield Hill residents objected to on- and off-ramps in their neighborhood. When plans were scrapped, numbers had a already been assigned. Exit 43 was simply eliminated.

(“06880” relies on the support of readers. Don’t wait until 2029 — please click here today to help!)

 

14 Comments

Posted in Transportation

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Photo Challenge #273

Posted on March 22, 2020 | 27 comments

There are a lot more sheer rock faces in Westport than I thought.

“06880” readers took a break from hand washing, social distancing and toilet paper hoarding last Sunday to guess where the latest Photo Challenge might be.

Michael Tomashefsky’s rock wall (click here here to see) was — according to numerous wrong guessers — either off I-95 Exit 17; behind the Sherwood Diner; behind the Gault barn on South Compo; in the parking lot behind Trader Joe’s; at Erickson’s Pond (where is that?), or near the bridge by the Levitt Pavilion (huh?!).

It is, in fact, near 95 — but Exit 18. The exact location is behind the commuter parking lot on the Sherwood Island Connector, diagonally across from the transfer station.

There’s plenty of rock there. As well as history. In the early 1700s, that area was the site of the very first Greens Farms Congregational Church meetinghouse.

Congratulations to Brian Taylor, Andrew Colabella, Wendy Cusick, Jerry Kuyper and René Fontaine.

Special props to Fran Taylor, who nailed it despite having lived in Kentucky for the past few decades. Then again, she grew up right around the corner from the Photo Challenge wall.

I guess it’s her rock of ages.

Before responding to this week’s Photo Challenge, please read carefully:

We’re not looking for where these figures are today (behind a home on Hitchcock Road).

We want to know where would you have seen them from 2001 to 2008?

If you know, click “Comments” below.

(Photo/Howard Silver)

27 Comments

Posted in Photo Challenge, Transportation

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Everyone Talks About Traffic: The Sequel

Posted on December 28, 2019 | 24 comments

Earlier this month, an alert, frustrated and very gridlocked “06880” reader wrote an opinion piece about traffic.

He noted some of the worst jams in Westport, and recommended the creation of a special town traffic czar an task force to examine the issue. Dozens of readers replied. Their comments ranged from “it’s even worse than you say” to “get over it.”

This week, the reader — who asked to be identified as “GS” — is back.

This time, he has one specific solution.

It’s a spot seldom mentioned when we discuss traffic woes. But it’s bad.

I-95 Exit 18 northbound getx jammed at rush hour. Cars creep up the hill; the backlog often spills all the way down the ramp, causing delays on the highway itself.

GS’ idea: Put a stoplight at the top of the exit, at the Sherwood Island Connector.

Exit 18, at the Sherwood Island Connector.

“Keep it green 85% of the time, for drivers coming off the exit,” he says. After all, virtually no one ever waits at what is now a stop sign, heading east to Sherwood Island State Park. (Even in summer, most traffic to the park comes off 95 northbound.)

Making Exit 18 more attractive would cause more drivers to get off there — easing the current congestion at Exit 17, and into Saugatuck, GS says. Waze and other traffic apps would notice, keeping drivers on 95 to Exit 18, instead of telling them to get off at 17 because of I-95 congestion ahead.

“It’s not a lot,” he admits. “But every little bit helps.”

It’s an interesting idea. So here is today’s “06880” challenge:

Come up with your own.

What little tweaks can you suggest, to ease traffic in Westport?

Where would you put a light, a stop sign, a turning lane? Where would you remove something that actually hinders the flow?

Be creative! Think outside the box! The sky’s the limit!

And if you think this is, um, pie in the sky: Think again.

These ideas will go right to our new task force and traffic czar.

Once they’re appointed, of course.

24 Comments

Posted in Transportation, Westport life

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