Metro-North is expanding service and restoring some express trains — including adding 34 new trains on the New Haven line.
Weekday service will be restored to 89% of pre-pandemic levels, and new train service will reduce trip times for a number of commuters (the railroad says).
All week long, donations for Ukraine have poured in to Wakeman Town Farm.
Medical and emergency supplies, sleeping bags, boots, socks, sweaters, gloves, radios, hand warmers, binoculars — all were sent or dropped off by Westporters.
Similar collections took place all week long at Weston’s Lechat Town Farm, and Wilton’s Ambler Farm.
Tomorrow, they’ll be sent overseas.
As soon as they arrive, they’ll be put to great use.
Christy Colasurdo of Wakeman Town Farm, in front of some of the donated items. (Photo/Ted Horowitz).
The expected opening for the Longshore golf course is this Friday (March 25) — weather permitting, of course. The halfway house concession opens April 1.
Click here for the course website. The pro shop phone number is 203-221-0900. For day of play tee times, call 203-226-9785.
Westport residents can purchase or renew a handpass online at www.westportrecreation.com or in person weekdays (8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) at the Parks & Recreation office, across the parking lot from the pro shop.
The18th hole. (Drone photo/John Videler for videler.com)
Jane Green — Westport’s favorite international best-selling author — has just released her first novel in 3 years. “Sister Stardust” is also her first biographical fiction.
Green re-imagines the life of troubled icon Talitha Getty, in this unique story from a forgotten chapter of the “Swinging ’60s.”
Though Talitha’s life seemed perfect, in her 20s — already a famous model and actress — she moved from London to a palace in Marrakesh with her husband, oil heir Paul Getty. She presided over an ex-pat scene filled with music, art, free love and a counterculture taking root across the world.
When Claire arrives in London from her small town, she never expects to cross paths with a woman as magnetic as Talitha Getty. Yearning for adventure and independence, she’s swept off to Marrakesh, where the two become kindred spirits. But beneath Talitha’s glamourous façade lurks a darkness few can understand. As their friendship blossoms and the two grow closer, the realities of Talitha’s precarious existence set off a chain of dangerous events that could alter Claire’s life forever.
The epilogue: Because Jane is as clever a person as she is a writer, she’s bringing out a range of caftans and jewelry inspired by the book.
Speaking of trains (as we were above): Got something to say about Wheels2U and/or the Westport Transit District?
Director Peter Gold and others will be at the Westport train station this Wednesday (March 23, 6 to 10 a.m., near the elevator on the westbound side), to meet commuters. In case of rain, they’ll meet inside the station house.
Gold says, “We want commuters to let us know what’s right with Wheels2U, what’s not working, and what we can do better. We also want to talk to commuters who don’t take Wheels2U [the on-demand, group ride, platform shuttle service] to make them aware of it.”
Russell Oost-Lievense has been named only the 4th head coach in the 64-year history of the Staples High School boys soccer program.
A former Staples captain (2007) and player at Hartwick College, Oost-Lievense has been a member of the Wreckers staff for 6 years. He is a special education teacher at Darien High.
He succeeds Dan Woog — hey, that’s me! — who retired in January after 19 years. I’m happy to quote myself:
“Russell is a spectacular choice. He has the total respect of players, parents and other coaches. He breaks down a match — both by teams, and individually — better than anyone I know. He is a master at creating game plans, and the training sessions leading up to them. He is a true student of the game.
“Russell is passionate about soccer at all level. He understands Staples’ tradition, our legacy, and the importance of passing that along to current and future players.
“Our program is in good shape. I am confident Russell will kick it up many more notches, in the years ahead. It will be great to see.”
Russell Oost-Lievense, in front of the Staples High School boys soccer trophy case.
The Artists Collective of Westport’s pop-up exhibit has announced a new date for its artists’ talk, at the Westport Country Playhouse barn. The new date is Saturday, March 26 (4 p.m.).
There’s an opening reception March 23 (6 p.m.). The exhibit is then open from March 24 through 26 (2 to 6 p.m.).
And if you’re playing golf at Longshore, and you get to the 7th tee — and you’re a male — the place to go is behind a tree.
That’s been true for generations. So — according to Carl Addison Swanson — a plaque commemorating the impromptu port-a-potty was put there in the late 1960s. The deed was done by members of the Longshore Junior Association.
Carl recalls a small pail hanging from the tree, too.
The plaque (photographed by Carl himself) was last week’s Photo Challenge. Click here to see.
Paul Lenihan, Fred Rubin, Barry Cass and Dave Eason all knew exactly where the plaque is. Dave also nailed the reason.
Now, if you can nail this week’s Photo Challenge, click “Comments” below.
The golf course looks great. The Inn sits handsomely — if under-utilizedly — on a prime piece of Sound-side property.
But plopped in between the 1st tee and the Inn sits a forlorn little traffic island.
That was last week’s Photo Challenge. Al Fiore, Andrew Colabella, Brandon Malin and John Richers all recognized it. Click here for Bob Weingarten’s photo — unless you’d prefer not to be depressed.
This week’s challenge is even more neglected. I can’t imagine the last time anyone bought a paper from this rusted-out kiosk.
As for the $1 price: USA Today raised it to $2.
In 2013.
If you know where in Westport you’d see this sorry sight, click Comments below.
A bill that would have banned municipalities from imposing high fees that might restrict non-residents from using public beaches — and from barring out-of-towners in order to prevent the spread of COVID — will not come up for a vote in the state legislature.
Politicians are spending their time on 2 other controversial measures — zoning reform and affordable housing — instead. The deadline for moving bills out of committee is April 5.
“It has been nice to see so many people out using our facilities as the weather has improved, including some people using the Longshore golf course as an open space for walking. As of Monday (March 29), it will be open for play, and no longer available for those not actively playing golf.
“Please keep in mind, even using the roadways through Longshore can be dangerous as errant golf balls can cause serious injury or damage. For your safety, we urge you to use other locations for getting outside.”
Even with social distancing, Longshore golf course is off limits. (Photo/Mary Sikorski)
Westport Country Playhouse’s popular “Script in Hand” series returns next month, with a virtual play reading of “Rent Control.” The Off-Broadway hit comedy tells the true story of a struggling-to-survive New York actor who invents a moneymaking scheme that (of course) backfires.
After premiering April 26 (7 p.m.), “Rent Control” is available on demand from April 27 through May 2.
Virtual tickets are available online, at 203-227-4177, or by email: boxoffice@westportplayhouse.org.
He was a novelist, not a musician. But when he and Peter Bogdanovich adapted his novel “The Last Picture Show” into a movie, the soundtrack included a number of Hank Williams’ songs.
It’s still one of my favorite films of all time. And I’ve been a Hank Williams fan ever since.
It started out as a white Christmas. By the end of the day, rain and 50-degree weather had washed most of the snow away.
All that remains are brown, crusty mounds like the ones below, at the Imperial Avenue parking lot.
The forecast is for temperatures in the high 40s today, 30s tomorrow and Wednesday, 40s and 50s the rest of the week and weekend.
Rain is predicted for New Year’s Eve. No big deal — you weren’t going out anyway, were you?
(Photo/Rowene Weems)
Was it a line for COVID testing — or the vaccine?
Perhaps PlayStation 5?
Nope, nope and nope.
This was the post-Christmas line outside Lululemon yesterday.
Jo Shields reports: “People waiting say it’s just social distancing, combined with shopping appointments and a limited number allowed in the store. Sounds like a really responsible company policy. Maybe even smart for sales.
“And although there were complaints about being cold, everyone was good natured and patient. And wearing masks.”
Barbara Levy entertained this good-looking — but hungry — visitor outside her Greens Farms home yesterday:
(Photo/Barbara Levy)
Pam Kesselman jokes: “Someone left a Big Bertha (large driver) in the 9th hole sand trap at Longshore. Please claim before it disappears.”
(Photo/Pam Kesselman)
And finally … we catch up with one more recently deceased musician.
Chad Stuart died last week of pneumonia. He was 79.
One-half of Chad & Jeremy — often confused with the longer-lived, more successful, equally cute British duo, one of whom also wore glasses — Chad & Jeremy made a brief career out of summer-themed songs.
And there’s this tidbit from Stuart’s New York Times obituary: describing Stuart’s solo career after the pair broke up: “At one point he opened for the hard-rock band Mountain in a bowling alley in Hartford, Conn.” Yesterday’s Roundup paid tribute to Mountain founder Leslie West, who died just 3 days after Chad Stuart.
If you’re stressed — and between COVID-19, Isaias, the state of the nation and the world, who isn’t? — you can talk to a shrink. You can take it out on your spouse or kids.
Or you can spend an hour or two on the Saugatuck River, on a kayak or paddle board.
For relaxation (and cost), I’ll take the water. On these hot August days, there is nothing like a leisurely (or harder workout) paddle up toward downtown, or down toward Long Island Sound.
The facility — at Bridgebrook Marina, on Riverside Avenue between the VFW and Saugatuck Rowing Club — has quickly become the go-to place for rentals, group activities, and a very popular summer camp for kids.
Now there’s more. Last night was the first “Taco Tuesday” in the parking lot by the dock (near the palm tree).
A taco truck will be there every Tuesday, from 5 to 7 p.m. A nice breeze, the calming river, fun food — you won’t care about the pandemic, a tropical storm, or anything else.
Westport Paddle Club owner Robbie Guimond (left), with employees and Staples High School seniors George Smith and Jack Douglas, at the taco truck.
As of early this morning, 98 Westport customers still lack electricity. That’s 0.78% of the town — meaning Eversource met their promise of 99% by Tuesday midnight.
The utility notes that a derecho storm that caused nearly a million outages in the Midwest caused some crews from those states to be called home to restore power there. Just think of those drives those workers had, getting here and back — and the work they do, here and there.
Eversource says, “at this time, we do not expect this to impact our restoration process” across Connecticut.
However, Jeff Jacobs takes issue with Eversource and the town’s announcement that all Westport roads are now passable.
Kings Highway South is closed just below Birchwood Country Club.
Finally yesterday, a barrier — mostly traffic cones — was erected at the junction of Kings Highway and Treadwell Avenue. There are still no signs or barriers at Post Road West, however, so drivers keep coming. And keep turning around.
Meanwhile, as Westport’s cleanup continues, residents — including David Meth — remain concerned about a utility pole in a very visible spot.
It rests on cables attached to another utility pole across from Willowbrook Cemetery, near the Main Street/Cross Highway split.
“If it crashes, it will pull down all the cables and then some,” David says. “I spoke to 2 Eversource workers nearby. One said he would take a look. The result: nothing.”
(Photo/David Meth)
Today marks the Westport Library’s return to normal — that is, COVID-normal — hours. Curbside pickup is available weekdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The building is open for browsing and staff support weekdays from 2 to 6 p.m., and noon to 4 p.m. Saturdays.
Beginning this Monday (August 17), appointments are recommended for the Children’s Library.
A family (or cohort of up to 5 people) will have the Children’s Library to themselves for 30 minutes. If they leave before their 30 minutes are up, walk-ins can book the remaining time.
Click here to reserve an appointment for the Children’s Room.
The Longshore golf course reopened today. The tennis courts will be back tomorrow (Thursday, August 13), after reconditioning.
Some of the damage on the Longshore golf course. (Photo/Brian Sikorski)
Next up in the Remarkable Theater’s remarkable summer drive-in movie series at the Imperial Avenue parking lot: “The Jungle Game” (Thursday, August 13), “Thelma and Louise” (Friday, August 14) and “School of Rock” (Saturday, August 15).
The lot opens at 7:45 p.m. Movies begin around 8:45. Tickets are $50 per car. Click here to reserve a spot, and for more information.
Last night, Darren Spencer and his family made their first trip to the pop-up series. He reports:
“It was a balmy evening in the parking lot with 49 other cars, but you would not have known it. Tuned in to 90.9 FM with clear audio and a brilliant screen, it made for a memorable evening.
“Thank you, Remarkable Theater, for breathing life into Westport in these uncertain and unusual times, and for turning what used to be unremarkable before the pandemic into the truly remarkable. And to Westport Town officials, I let’s ensure we turn this into a Westport institution every summer for many years to come!”
(Photo/Darren Spencer)
Still need a place to work? Serendipity Labs — the co-working space which opened at 55 Post Road West just a month before COVID hit — is offering complimentary day passes for the first visit. Click here to learn more.
Serendipity Labs, 55 Post Road West
Many voters in yesterday’s Democratic and Republican primaries sent ballots by mail. But those who ventured to the one polling place in town — Bedford Middle School — gave high marks to local officials.
Everyone working wore masks. They hand voters plastic gloves. They strictly enforced the 6-foot rule. And — though you couldn’t see them — they did it all with smiles.
It’s not easy voting in the midst of a pandemic, right after a treacherous storm. In Westport at least, we proved we can multi-task. On to November 3!
First, an outdoor volleyball court popped up at the old Save the Children property on Wilton Road.
Now there’s a floating water polo game in the waters off Compo Beach.
Click “Comments” if you know what’s next.
(Photo/Seth Schachter)
And finally … you may not recognize the name Wayne Fontana. The lead singer of the Mindbenders died last week in England, at 74. But if you’re a certain age, you probably remember his signature song:
In his afternoon briefing on WWPT-FM (90.3) yesterday, fire inspector Nate Gibbons warned that golfers would find a very different course when Longshore reopens.
He’s not kidding.
Director Jen Fava’s crew has worked tirelessly to get the town jewel back in shape, after it took a particularly hard shot from Tropical Storm Isaias.
Here, for example, is — er, was — a white oak, along the end of the 18th hole fairway. Judging by its rings, it was 275 to 300 years old.
Brian Sikorski — who took the photo above — sent images of more damage, all over the course. Fortunately, no greens were damaged.
But Nate Gibbons was right. Golfers’ views are now very, very different.
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