Tag Archives: Imperial Avenue

Pics Of The Day #3122

Last night’s full moon over the Minute Man monument …

… and Cribari Bridge …

… and Imperial Avenue … (Photos/Susan Garment)

… and downtown Westport (Photo/Dayle Brownstein)

Roundup: CT Challenge, Chariots Of Fire, MAD Magazine,

Every year, the CT Challenge draws thousands of bike riders. They ride up to 100 miles on scenic roads, raising millions of dollars for cancer survivors.

It’s a team effort — including volunteers.

On Saturday, 2nd Selectwoman Andrea Moore joined members of Westport’s National Charity League, helping at the Mile 17 rest stop in front of Redding Town Hall.

Among the riders who stopped for water (and moral support): Westport Public Schools assistant superintendent John Bayers (2nd from right in photo below), and Westporters Roy Kim (front left) and Victor Garra (back right, without helmet).

The group completed 77.9 hard-earned miles.

2nd Selectwoman Andrea Moore, with riders in Redding. 

Westport’s National Charity League volunteers (from left): Megan Lott, Deanne McGuinn, Maya McGuinn, Ella Moore, Jaden Tracey, Sonja Tracey, Andrea Moore, Stephanie Bulkeley, Kate Bulkeley.

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It’s a simple gesture — and one that most folks driving past the Imperial Avenue office building opposite Jesup Road don’t notice.

But anyone walking or jogging past hears music coming from a small speaker, placed strategically on a tree stump at #27-29.

Yesterday’s selection was particularly apt: “Chariots of Fire.” The film is about 2 runners training for the Olympics — the 1924 Games, in Paris.

Rachel Markus says, “I’m grateful to whomever has decided to share their music!”

The speaker (lower right) plays music that inspires joggers on Imperial Avenue. (Photo/Rachel Markus)

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Everyone of a certain age remembers MAD magazine.

Now — in a new book exploring the impact of the satirical publication on American life and culture — Mary-Lou Weisman remembers it too.

The Westport writer’s remembrances of cartoonist Al Jaffee is one of 28 essays. She is joined by (among others) Roz Chast, R. Crumb, Adam Gopnik and Art Spiegelman.

“The MAD Files: Writers and Cartoonists on the Magazine That Warped America’s Brain” will be published in September. Click here for details.

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Hundreds of youngsters painted rocks yesterday, with the help of Compo Beach Playground Committee members, at the first-ever Soundview Summer Stroll.

Some that were drying were not picked up by their “owners.” They can be claimed today, on the Soundview seawall.

(Photo/Totney Benson)

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A home on Morningside Drive has multiple deer feeders.

As this “Westport … Naturally” photo shows, that’s a lot better meal for homeowners than bushes and flowers.

(Photo/Johanna Keyser Rossi)

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And finally … if the “Chariots of Fire” story above got you thinking about Vangelis’ electronic-sounding music theme song, you’re in luck! Just click below … it’s a winner.

(“06880” is your gold medal hyper-local blog. Like amateur athletes, we rely on the support of our fans. Please click here to help [us, not the Olympians]. Thank you!)

Question Box #10

Our Question Box is  full. 

That doesn’t mean I have all the answers.

But I’m sure our readers — in their collective wisdom — do.

Please chime in with any additional information. Click “Comments” below.

And, as always: If you have a question for our box, email 06880blog@gmail.com.

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Who isi responsible for the upkeep and oversight of electric vehicle chargers on Westport town property?

There are 4 in the railroad station parking lot next to Donut Crazy. Two of them have not worked for months. No one seems to be doing anything about it.

Is the town paying a company to provide these chargers? Are we receiving subsidies for having chargers? (Anonymous)

The Police Department oversees railroad parking, so I asked Police Chief Foti Koskinas.

He said the town owns the charges. The first generation — installed in 2012 — required less voltage than the current ones. So now, there’s enough voltage only for 2 chargers.

They’re aware of the situation. Within a few weeks, all 4 will be operational.

The town gives the power away for free, at the train station and at all other charging stations on municipal property.

However, Foti says, the Selectwoman’s office, under the direction of operations director Tom Kiely, is looking at a new policy under which users would pay a fee.

An electric charging station at the Saugatuck train station. (Photo by Paul Schott/Westport News)

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Where does the compost from the dump collection bins go? And is the ripe compost available for customer? (Chuck Hill) 

I went to Public Works director Pete Ratkiewich for this one. He says: “Some goo to Southington to an aerobic digester. Some go to composting farms in Danbury and the New Milford area.

There is no compost available for customers.

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How did Imperial Avenue get its unlikely name? (Dick Seclow)

A great question — and one I’ve often wondered about.

Westport historians: Please let us know. And please include whether you’re passing along a fact, local lore, or something in between.

Imperial Avenue, in the fall. (Photo/Carmine Picarello)

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When hanging out at Compo Beach, exactly what Long Island town are we looking at across Long Island Sound? (Kevin McCaul)

It’s between Northport and Stony Brook, according to this map.

But I don’t know exactly. Nor do I know what those very visible large stacks are.

Long Islanders: Feel free to weigh in!

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Mr. Mailbox charges $800 to put in a new post and box. Can you completely ditch a mailbox and just use a PO Box? Is there a law that every house needs to have a street mailbox?

As best as I can determine, there is no law regarding mailboxes. It seems you can have a mail slot in your front door, so long as you tell the post office.

Without either option, the US Postal Service will mark your first-class mail “Undeliverable” and return it to the sender. Other mail will be discarded.

You can rent a PO Box at the Post Office — or through a private service, like the UPS Store.

You can also have your mail addressed to “General Delivery,” with a specific Post Office and ZIP Code. But you’d have to wait in line there to pick up your mail.

Colorful Compo Road North mailboxes. (Photo/Mark Mathias)

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 I was raised in a Marine family, and was taught to address any adults as “sir” or “ma’am.” My brother was actually told to stop calling his teacher “sir,” because he thought he was being mocked.

Today, young kids and teenagers seem to think it is okay to call adults by their first name. What do Westporters think? (Jo Ann Miller)

I have no idea, ma’am. Readers: Please click “Comments” below.

Marine Lt. Gen. Thomas H. Miller — Jo Ann’s father — in 1960.

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Pic Of The Day #2129

Imperial Avenue birdhouse (Photo/Patricia McMahon)

Pic Of The Day #2128

Imperial Avenue, from Riverside Avenue (Photo/Tracy Porosoff)

Friday Flashback #228

Westport knows John Videler as a brilliant photographer. He’s carrying on the tradition started by his father Cor, many years ago.

And we know the Gault area — between Imperial Avenue and South Compo — as a tight-knit neighborhood, filled with handsome homes.

But for many decades, it was a gravel pit. Gault — the company founded in Westport in 1863 — owned it. Every day from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., a crusher pulverized rocks.

In 1979, John was 16 years old. His father had given him his first camera. He headed to the gravel pit, not far from his home.

Today, John’s photos chronicle the beauty of our town. Four decades ago, he showed how we worked.

BONUS GAULT FEATURE: Across the street from the gravel pit — right on the river — was Gault Little League Field.

It took a mighty swing to clear the fence. 

But if you did, the ball ended up across Imperial Avenue, in the pit.

The Marauders, at Gault Park.

The Sidewalks Of Westport

With Staples High and Bedford Middle Schools closed, it may be a while since you’ve driven on North Avenue.

If you have, you’ve noticed construction underway on a new sidewalk. It parallels the old one, from Long Lots Road north to Cross Highway. But it’s closer to the road, with no grass strip in between.

The old sidewalk was separated from North Avenue by a grass strip …

What’s up with that? several readers wondered.

I asked Peter Ratkiewich. The Public Works director said the new sidewalk will be 5 feet wide, elevated above the road by a 6-inch concrete curb. For the most part, it will run along the edge of the road. In certain areas with obstructions, it will deviate from the road edge.

The old sidewalk — parts of which were over 30 years old — will be removed entirely. That area will be restored with topsoil and seed.

… while the new one will not be. (Photos/Michael Fleming)

The new construction will facilitate maintenance (including winter, when it must be plowed or shoveled).

This is the same method of construction used all over town. The North Avenue sidewalk will look very similar to the one on Imperial Avenue, built about 6 years ago and hailed by many residents.

North Avenue resident Michael Fleming is not pleased, however. He started a petition asking the town to retain the sidewalk buffers.

The Imperial Avenue sidewalk.

In other sidewalk news, Public Works has nearly completed a new sidewalk on Maple Avenue North. They’ll start the Myrtle Avenue project soon.

Ratkiewich is still waiting for word from the state on the Riverside Avenue reconstruction project. It will include some sidewalk replacement.

The Main Street sidewalk project has been submitted to the state for final review. He hopes to have that project underway before fall.

Next year, Ratkiewich hopes to rebuild the Hillspoint Road sidewalk from Old Mill Beach to Greens Farms Road, and the Compo Road South sidewalk from the Post Road to Bridge Street.

The North Avenue project was scheduled before COVID-19. And yes, the lack of traffic has made the work easier.

 

Pic Of The Day #918

Halloween house, Imperial Avenue (Photo/Katherine Bruan)

Pic Of The Day #196

Imperial Avenue, fall foliage. (Photo/Carmine Picarello)

Imperial Springtime

It seems like most of Westport is away this week, for the public schools’ spring break.

You could roll a bowling ball down the Post Road and not hit anyone.*

That’s a shame. The weather has been great — at least as good as in Turks and Caicos, Zermatt or wherever you are — with different spring stuff popping up every day.

Alert “06880” reader Fred Cantor snapped this photo on Imperial Avenue yesterday:

(Photo/Fred Cantor)

See what you’re missing?

*Not that I’m suggesting you do this.