Tag Archives: Lenny Klein

Roundup: DPIC Meeting, 9/11 Ride, Emmy Squared Pizza …

The Downtown Plan Implementation Committee will hold a public meeting tomorrow morning (Thursday, September 7, 8:30 a.m., Town Hall Room 201).

Agenda items include a strategic priority review, parking lots reinvention, pedestrian access and sustainability. Click here for the full agenda.

Discussion continues on the Downtown Plan Implementation Committee’s Parker Harding Plaza plan.

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The CT United Ride — Connecticut’s largest tribute to the victims and first responders of 9/11 — is important.

It’s also the largest motorcycle ride in the state.

And — as worthy as the cause is — it has a major impact on Westport traffic.

The ride this Sunday (September 10) begins at Sherwood Island State Park at 11:30 a.m. Bikers take I-95 south to Exit 17.

They then travel north up Saugatuck Avenue  and Riverside Avenue (Route 33); they cross the Post Road onto Wilton Road, and continue to the Wilton town line.

The route is closed and continuous. With the assistance of a police escort, motorcyclists drive through traffic lights and do not stop at stop signs.

Expect extended traffic delays along the route — potentially 45 minutes or longer.

Plan alternate routes — and avoid the Post Road West/Riverside Avenue/Wilton Road intersection completely — from about 11:35 a.m. to 12:30. Roads will be completely impassable until the entire procession clears.

Motorcycles mass before the start of the CT United Ride at Sherwood Island State Park. (Photo/Penny Pearlman)

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Emmy Squared Pizza opened officially yesterday. The restaurant — which replaces Amis in Bedford Square — was packed.

Emmy Squared features Detroit-style pizzas (square, with fluffy dough and cheesy crust), a Le Big Matt burger, as well as appetizers, salads, gluten-free and vegan options, craft cocktails, wine, beer, and more.

A special 10- by 14-inch pizza with 10 slices is being tested at the Westport location only.

There are 24 Emmy’s locations in the US, including New York, Philadelphia, Washington, Nashville, Louisville, Charlotte and Atlanta.

Pizzas from Emmy Squared.

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Meanwhile … as Homes with Hope’s food pantry runs low, they’ve reached out to the Westport Farmers’ Market.

And the Farmers’ Market is reaching out to their many customers.

Tomorrow and next Thursday (September 7 and 14, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Imperial Avenue parking lot), a non-perishable food and can drive will help replenish the shelves.

Needed items include canned fruits and vegetables, canned tuna/chicken/meat, peanut butter and jelly, pasta sauce, and hearty soups/chili. Drop-off bins will be clearly marked.

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Registration began at 9 a.m. today for Westport Parks & Recreation Department fall programs. Click here for the link.

That’s also the way to register for Wakeman Town Farm’s youth programs, like “Little Farmer Parent & Me,” “Toddler Sprouts,” “Fantastic Farmhands” and “Farm Apprentice.”

Click here for more information on those programs, and how to register.

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With a heat advisory in effect for the area through tomorrow at 8 p.m. Westport’s Office of Emergency Management has opened 5 cooling centers:

The Senior Center is one of Westport’s 5 public cooling spots.

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One of Westport’s most iconic homes may soon be a teardown.

Among the items on the agenda for the next  Historic District Commission meeting (Tuesday, September 12, 7 p.m., Zoom):

“To take such action as the meeting may determine to oppose the issuance of the demolition permit for 43 Compo Mill Cove and require the full 180-day delay.”

That’s the first house you see on Compo Cove from the pedestrian bridge — and the only one on the left side of the Cove path.

It’s been there for decades. But that’s not its first location. It was moved at some point in the 1900s, from its original location, across the way.

43 Compo Mill Cove (Photo courtesy of MLS)

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Some people worked yesterday at the Westport Library. Others were at the US Open — or watching at home.

At the Trefz Forum, you could have worked and enjoyed the tennis matches.

Thank goodness for closed captioning.

(Photo/Susan Leone)

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“Offshore wind could be the economic engine and energy solution California needs, but only if our state policymakers lead the way — and we’re running out of time to get it right.”

That’s the lead sentence in an op-ed piece — “Wind Farms Off California’s Coast Should be the Future of the State’s Clean Energy Grid” — that ran recently in the Los Angeles Times.

It was co-authored by Taylor McNair. The 2012 Staples High School graduate is a program manager for Berkeley-based GridLab, a non-profit focused on power grid transformation. Click here for the full piece.

Taylor McNair

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There are only 5 national recipients of this year’s Financial Literacy Ambassador Award.

And one is from Westport.

Staples High School student Andrew Rebello earned the honor (and a $1,000 prize). He got a perfect score on the Working in Support of Education Financial Literacy Certification test. His application then went through 3 rounds of judging.

Andrew credits his Financial Literacy teacher, Lenny Klein, for much of his success.

Andrew is co-captain of the Staples Investment and Trading Society, which participates in the Wharton Investment Competition.

He also founded the Staples team for the Federal Reserve Bank of New York Challenge. Last year, the team’s paper was published in the Journal of Future Economists.

Andrew also volunteers at the Long Lots Preserve.

  Andrew Rebello

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The new “Jazz at the Post” season debuts tomorrow (Thursday, September 7; shows at 7:30 and 8:45 p.m.; VFW Joseph J. Clinton Post 399).

Guitarists Kenny Wessel and Rale Micic headline opening night. They’re joined by bassist Essiet Essiet, drummer Jason Tiemann, and Westport’s own “Jazz Rabbi,” Greg Wall on sax.

There is a $15 cover. Reservations are strongly recommended: JazzatthePost@gmail.com.

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“Voice Scapes Audio Theater” — an evening of comedy and drama — comes to Westport next month.

The short, original, contemporary pieces performed by award-winning actors, engineers and directors, with sound effects and music, benefits the Westport Rotary Club’s Education Fund.

The “fully immersive experience” is October 18 (7 p.m., Greens Farms Congregational Church).

Tickets are $25. Mail to Westport Rotary Club, PO Box 743, Westport, CT 06881, or Venmo @Thomas-Carey-73046 (last 4 cellphone digits: 5819).

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The Westport Library’s 3-part series on the brain kicks off tomorrow (Thursday, September 7, 7 p.m.).

Dr. Robert Altbaum and Dr. Daryl Story join Andrew Wilk. They’ll talk about strokes and transient ischemic attacks, focusing on maximizing chances for recovery. The doctors will answer questions after their presentations.

From left: Dr. Daryl Story, Dr. Robert Altbaum, Andrew Wilk.

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One Woody Lane homeowner is not taking any more s—.

He placed this sign on his front lawn:

I’m not sure it will work though.

A lot of dogs can’t read.

And those that do, don’t give a crap.

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Deer can’t read those “Deer Crossing” signs, either.

They cross wherever they please.

Usually they’re bounding — often, in front of startled drivers.

These 3 took their own time. And, as they posed for our “Westport … Naturally” feature on Compo Road South, they did it “Abbey Road” style.

(Photo/Jimmy Franco)

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And finally … sure, it’s September 6. But:

 

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Financial Reality Comes To Staples

A few years ago this month, I got a panicked text from a soccer player I’d coached at Staples High School.

He graduated from college the previous year. Now — less than a year into his first job — he said, “I owe thousands of dollars to the IRS. How come no one ever taught me about taxes at Staples??!!”

Sarah White

The chances I’ll receive a similar text are a lot lower today. Two-thirds of seniors take Personal Finance — a math department elective taught lovingly but toughly by Stacey Delmhorst, Jen Giudice, Lenny Klein and Sarah White.

And a couple of weeks ago, every senior took part in Staples’ first-ever Financial Reality Fair. They gave it high marks.

The event was part of a larger 4-hour “Real World” event. Students learned about substance abuse, sexual assault and reproductive health.

But the money shot involved money.

The idea came from the classes’ regular visits to Financial Reality Fairs at other schools. White and Klein asked each other, Why not do one at Staples?

White took the lead. Principal James D’Amico and the school’s Collaborative Team gave their blessings. But making it a reality took a ton of work.

Connecticut’s Credit Unions were the sponsors. They provided the curriculum, materials and a number of experts.

The Staples PTA provided a $4,000 Wrecker Mini-Grant. They also put out a call for (financially literate) volunteers. The response was tremendous — including members of Westport’s Board of Finance and Education. Students who had previously been to a Financial Reality Fair also volunteered.

Staples parent Margie Adler and senior Vaughan Picirillo-Sealey: volunteers at the Financial Reality Fair.

Students began the day by choosing a career. They could pick anything — business executive, doctor, lawyer, actor, financial analyst, pilot, military member, writer, teacher, whatever.

They were then given the starting salary (in Connecticut) for that job. Each student was also saddled with student loan debt. The amount owed depended on the years of education required for that profession. The longer they were in school, the higher their debt.

They were also assigned — randomly — a credit score.

Tables in the gym were marked with various real-life expenditures: Housing, Transportation, Food, Clothing.

Wait — food costs money?!

Those were mandatory. Others were optional: Nightlife, Fitness & Gym, Hair/Nails/Spa, Cell Phone, Cable/Internet, Pets, Travel.

By themselves, or — if they wished — with a “roommate,” students visited tables. There were many options. How often would they eat out? Did they want basic cable, or the platinum package? What kind of vacations would they take?

Staples seniors Ben Schwartz and Lefty Pendarakis discuss options with Financial Reality Fair volunteers.

They could choose one-off expenses too, like buying an Xbox. If they wanted to buy a car, fine — but they had to take out a credit union loan. (Hey, they were the sponsors!)

There was also a mandatory “wheel” to spin. It saddled them with unexpected costs (lost cell phone, broken leg) or extra funds (overtime pay, birthday gift).

The wheel of fortune. Or misfortune.

Each choice carried consequences. As the students quickly learned, each consequence led to others.

When they were done with their budget, each teenager met with a volunteer financial counselor. They had undergone training, to ask questions like, “Why did you make that decision?”

The final step: meeting with a financial counselor.

It was a very engaging — and educational — day.

The students were surprised at the effect of student debt on their budgets. They were even more amazed at the impact of credit scores.

“I had to pay more than my friend for the same truck!” one boy said, astonished.

Feedback was excellent. The soon-to-go-off-to-college-and-then-become-adults began seeing finances not as something provided by the Bank of Mom and Dad, but as actual living, changing realities.

It was a reality check for some. A wake-up call for others.

And for one — well, who knows?

“I realize I’m not ready for life,” the student said.

But he or she is a lot more ready than that former soccer player who texted me — panic-stricken — after his first encounter with the IRS.